2015 Annual Report
North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Plant Industry Division
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NCDA&CS
Plant Industry Division
Annual Report
2015
2015 Annual Report
North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Plant Industry Division
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Table of Contents
LIST OF TABLES ........................................................................................................................................... 3
LIST OF FIGURES ......................................................................................................................................... 4
NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER SERVICES ..................................... 6
NORTH CAROLINA BOARD OF AGRICULTURE ............................................................................................. 6
CONTACT INFORMATION ............................................................................................................................ 7
ACCOMPLISHMENTS: ADMINISTRATIVE AND SUPPORT SERVICES SECTION ............................................. 8
ACCOMPLISHMENTS: PLANT PROTECTION SECTION................................................................................. 9
Apiary Inspection Program ..................................................................................................................... 10
Cooperative Agriculture Pest Survey (CAPS) Program ............................................................................ 28
Entomological Programs ......................................................................................................................... 37
Nursery Certification Program ................................................................................................................ 62
Phytosanitary Certification Program/ 2015 Export Certification Program ............................................. 64
Plant Conservation Program ................................................................................................................... 66
Plant Pathology Program ........................................................................................................................ 75
Regulatory Weed Program ...................................................................................................................... 81
ACCOMPLISHMENTS: SEED AND FERTILIZER SECTION .......................................................................... 107
Seed and Fertilizer Field Programs ....................................................................................................... 107
N.C. Seed Laboratory ............................................................................................................................ 109
Joint Collaboration with USDA, Biotechnology Regulatory Services .................................................... 111
North Carolina Seed Board ................................................................................................................... 111
North Carolina Tobacco Variety Evaluation Program ........................................................................... 111
2015 Annual Report
North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Plant Industry Division
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LIST OF TABLES
Table 1 Summary of Cerceris nest site visits in 2015 ................................................................... 16
Table 2 Site information for Pseudacteon releases ....................................................................... 21
Table 3 Releases of Rhinoncomimus latipes in North Carolina by year. ..................................... 26
Table 4 List of species caught in exotic woodborer and bark beetle traps in 2015. ..................... 30
Table 5 Total number of dissections for old world bollworm (Helicoverpa armigera) ............... 35
Table 6 Summary of the 2015 sweet potato weevil field surveys in NC. ..................................... 38
Table 7 2015 distribution of EAB trap locations by county in North Carolina. ........................... 44
Table 8 EAB positive sites in 2015 by county and insect stage detected. .................................... 46
Table 9 2015 EGM survey results in North Carolina by county. ................................................. 49
Table 10 2015 gypsy moth mating disruption treatment rate, site location, and acreage. ............ 53
Table 11 Results of 2015 IFA surveys in North Carolina. ........................................................... 59
Table 12. 2015 reported cotton acreage in North Carolina. .......................................................... 60
Table 13. Cotton gin numbers surveyed for cotton boll weevil in North Carolina. ..................... 60
Table 14 Entomological quarantine summary for North Carolina in 2015. ................................. 61
Table 15 Number of North Carolina nursery and nursery dealer licenses by yearw ..................... 62
Table 16 Number of phytosanitary certificates issued through the PCIT1 system2 ...................... 65
Table 17 Known Giant Hogweed sites in Watauga County, Spring 2015.................................... 88
Table 18 Known Itchgrass sites in Robeson County, surveyed in Spring 2015. .......................... 90
Table 19 Known Oriental Bittersweet sites by County, Fall 2015. .............................................. 92
Table 20 Purple loosestrife sites and acreages treated near Winston-Salem, NC. ....................... 93
Table 21 Purple loosestrife sites and acreages treated in Henderson County, NC. ...................... 94
Table 22 Tropical Soda Apple survey sites, Sampson County. .................................................... 95
Table 23 Tropical Spiderwort quarantine visitor sign-ins and wash station log, 2015................. 97
Table 24 Infested acreage by point value and county for 2014 and 2015 .................................. 102
Table 25 Number of infested farms and fields by county. .......................................................... 102
Table 26 Released acreage by point value and county for 2014 and 2015. ................................ 103
Table 27 Summary of treated acreage by crop type for 2014 and 2015. .................................... 103
Table 28 Summary of acres by treatment type. .......................................................................... 104
Table 29 Summary of surveyed acreage. .................................................................................... 104
Table 30 Witchweed program acreage status ............................................................................. 105
Table 31 Other Witchweed program statistics. ........................................................................... 105
Table 32 Seed and Fertilizer Program Inspection and Regulatory Activities, FY 2014-15 ....... 108
Table 33 Data of fertilizer samples analyzed for the current and previous fiscal years ............. 108
Table 34 Data of lime and landplaster samples analyzed for current and previous fiscal years. 108 2015 Annual Report
North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Plant Industry Division
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LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1 European honey bee ....................................................................................................... 10
Figure 2 Dead hemlock trees in Linville Gorge, NC 2012. .......................................................... 18
Figure 3 Sticky trap for capturing phorid flies.............................................................................. 20
Figure 4 Mile-a-Minute vine overgrowing other vegetation. ....................................................... 23
Figure 5. Mile-a-Minute infestations in North Carolina. .............................................................. 24
Figure 6 Alleghaney County weevil releases and dispersal. ......................................................... 25
Figure 7 Exotic woodborer and bark beetle survey and geocache sites, 2015. ............................ 29
Figure 8 The 2015 oak commodity survey locations for North Carolina. .................................... 31
Figure 9 2015 Asian defoliators survey sites for North Carolina. ................................................ 32
Figure 10 2015 grape commodity survey locations for North Carolina. ...................................... 33
Figure 11 2015 Solanaceous survey locations for North Carolina. .............................................. 35
Figure 12 Abdomen dissection of a putative Chrysodeixis chalcites. .......................................... 36
Figure 13 Sweet potato weevil traps. ............................................................................................ 40
Figure 14 Sweet potato weevil quarantine area trapping results. ................................................. 41
Figure 15 Example of "weather radar" style map used for EAB trapping and visual surveys. .... 43
Figure 16 Emerald ash borer traps set in North Carolina for the 2015 survey season. ................ 44
Figure 17 Locations of positive EAB finds in North Carolina in 2015. ....................................... 45
Figure 18 NC 2015 European Gypsy Moth (Lymantria dispar L.) survey areas. ......................... 48
Figure 19 NCDA&CS EGM Master Survey Plan. ....................................................................... 48
Figure 20 North Carolina gypsy moth trap catches in 2015. ........................................................ 49
Figure 21 EGM infestation in Buxton, North Carolina, late May 2015. ...................................... 52
Figure 22 Mass delimit trapping results for Buxton EGM infestation. ........................................ 53
Figure 23 2015 EGM treatment sites (red) along with delimiting grids and all other traps set. ... 54
Figure 24 Gypsy moth quarantine in North Carolina shown in red. ............................................. 54
Figure 25 Lingdren funnel trap (four funnels) set on a pole by a walnut tree. ............................. 57
Figure 26 Site location for walnut twig beetle traps in NC. ......................................................... 57
Figure 27 New IFA mound frequency along the quarantined line in North Carolina. ................. 58
Figure 28 Plant conservation preserve system .............................................................................. 67
Figure 29 American ginseng root ................................................................................................. 69
Figure 30 Ipomoea aquatica being sold in an Asian market. ....................................................... 86
Figure 31 Hand-removal of yellow floating heart by residents of Lake Summit. ........................ 87
Figure 32 Crested floating heart. Guilford County, NC .............................................................. 87
Figure 33 Public Itchgrass meeting, Rowland Fire Department, February 2015. ........................ 89
Figure 34. NCDOT signs posted at each itchgrass site, March 2015. .......................................... 89
Figure 35 NCDOT employee spraying herbicide for Itchgrass control, March 2015. ................. 90
Figure 36 NCDA&CS employees release MAM weevils in Perquimans County, May 2015. .... 90
Figure 37 Confirmed reports of Mile-A-Minute Vine in North Carolina, 2015. .......................... 91
Figure 38 Quarantined counties where movement and sale of Oriental Bittersweet is allowed. . 91
Figure 39 Sanitation of chain saws used in tropical spiderwort infested areas. March 2015. ...... 95
Figure 40 Hand rogueing a small patch of Tropical Spiderwort, Raleigh, NC September 2015. 96
Figure 41 Witchweed in flower in an idle field, Cumberland County, NC September 2015. ...... 98
Figure 42 NCDA&CS Witchweed staff, Bladen County, September 2015. .............................. 100
Figure 43 NCDA&CS employee Earl Brewington explains the Witchweed program ............... 101
Figure 44 Witchweed distribution in North Carolina by County and Inspector. ........................ 106 2015 Annual Report
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Figure 45 Seed Laboratory official tests. .................................................................................... 110
Figure 46 Seed Laboratory service tests. .................................................................................... 110
2015 Annual Report
North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Plant Industry Division
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NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER SERVICES
Steve Troxler
Commissioner of Agriculture
Chairman, Board of Agriculture
North Carolina Board of Agriculture
Maurice Berry William Johnston Kirk Mathis Bert Pitt Mark Peters John W. Carter
Jeffrey Turner Casey Armstrong Doug Boyd Tommy Burleson Bob Sutter
Mission Statement
The mission of the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is to provide services that promote and improve agriculture, agribusiness, and forests; protect consumers and businesses; and conserve farmland and natural resources for the prosperity of all North Carolinians.
2015 Annual Report
North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Plant Industry Division
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CONTACT INFORMATION
Commissioner and Executive Staff
Steve Troxler Commissioner (919) 707-3000
N. David Smith Chief Deputy Commissioner (919) 707-3033
Joe Reardon Assistant Commissioner (919) 707-3009
Dr. Richard Reich Assistant Commissioner (919) 707-3015
Scott Bissette Assistant Commissioner (919) 857-4844
Director and Administrative Staff
Vernon N. Cox Division Director (919) 707-3732
Phil Wilson Plant Protection Section Administrator (919) 707-3753
Brian Bowers Seed and Fertilizer Section Administrator (919) 707-3735
Cheri Toner Administrative Officer II (919) 707-3731
Plant Industry Division
Plant Industry Division Web Site: http://www.ncagr.gov/plantindustry/
Facilities:
Plant Industry Division-Administrative Offices and N.C. Seed Laboratory
Physical Address: 216 West Jones Street, Raleigh, NC 27603
Mailing Address: 1060 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1060
Support Operations
Physical Address: 1013 Blair Drive, Raleigh, NC 27603
Mailing Address: 1060 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1060
Biological Control Services
Physical Address: 950 East Chatham Street, Cary, NC 27511
Mailing Address: 1060 Mail Service Center, Raleigh NC 27699-1060
Witchweed Program Facilities
Physical Address: 450 Smith Circle, Room 108, Elizabethtown, NC 28337
Mailing Address: Same as above
Physical Address: Agri-Expo Center, 301 Mountain Dr., Rm. 204, Fayetteville, NC 28306
Mailing Address: Same as above
Physical Address: O.P. Owens Agric. Center, 405 Country Club Dr. Lumberton, NC 28358
Mailing Address: Same as above 2015 Annual Report
North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Plant Industry Division
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ACCOMPLISHMENTS: ADMINISTRATIVE AND SUPPORT SERVICES SECTION
The NCDA&CS state appropriated budget for 2015 was $3,637,849 and included a total staff of 83. For this fiscal year, there were significant increases in the phytosanitary fees collected by field staff. The Plant Industry Division continued its work with other organizations, both public and private, through the administration of cooperative agreements. For the period, approximately $1,905,669 in cooperative agreements was received and administered for work with joint plant pest regulatory programs.
The Plant Industry Division, Support Operations Unit provides support for all the division’s programs, including staff and maintenance of Division owned vehicles and other equipment needed for all service and regulatory programs. This unit also assists the Division with the implementation of safety/seasonal orientation.
2015 Annual Report
North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Plant Industry Division
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ACCOMPLISHMENTS: PLANT PROTECTION SECTION
The mission of the Plant Protection Section is to enhance the quality of life in North Carolina by protecting agriculture and the environment from injurious plant pests, by promoting beneficial organisms, and by protecting rare native plants of the state.
We serve the people of North Carolina by:
 Protecting agricultural crops, horticultural crops and native flora, by preventing or controlling the invasion and spread of injurious insects, plant pathogens, weeds, and other pests of regulatory concern.
 Protecting honey bees by combating the spread of bee pathogens.
 Responding to constantly changing threats to crops, rare native plants, and honey bees by drafting effective and reasonable regulations and by achieving public compliance.
 Supporting agriculture, horticulture and related industries by providing inspection and export services to facilitate the movement of regulated commodities.
 Protecting rare native plants by restoring their habitats, and by propagating and restoring them to the wild.
 Promoting beneficial organisms that serve as biological controls of pest species.
 Providing outstanding service and satisfaction to all our clients.
North Carolina has an extremely wide range of climate, from near tropical along the southeast coast to winter conditions similar to southern Canada in our higher mountains in the west. Such diversity provides suitable environments for an extremely diverse flora and fauna. Extensive international air and sea transportation, both military and commercial, and an extensive Interstate Highway System increase the potential for the accidental introduction of pest organisms into North Carolina. Therefore, North Carolina’s Plant Protection Section programs must deal with a wide range of organisms and host-pest interactions.
Major program activities for the period January 1 through December 31, 2015 are described in the following reports.
2015 Annual Report
North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Plant Industry Division
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Apiary Inspection Program
The primary mission of the Apiary Inspection Service is to maintain a viable beekeeping industry and ensure the productivity of North Carolina’s diverse agriculture. The North Carolina beekeeping industry continues to remain viable and is expanding, particularly with new hobby beekeepers. Our inspectors assist beekeepers through field inspections, educational meetings and field days, and attempt to be available to assist the beekeepers in any way necessary. Our goal is to further improve our overall inspections and ultimately, to reduce the rate of honey bee disease and pest problems.
To protect the health of our honey bee industry, permits to sell bees are required for anyone wishing to sell queens, package bees, nucs, or hives. In 2015, 72 permits were issued to sellers in-state and 16 to out of state dealers. To obtain a permit, bees must be inspected and the producers must agree to comply with standards designed to maintain healthy colonies. Beekeepers are strongly encouraged to buy only from permitted dealers so as to avoid buying unhealthy or Africanized honey bees. The permit list can be found at: http://www.ncagr.gov/plantindustry/Plant/apiary/documents/PermitToSell2016.pdf.
One of the most devastating and difficult to control bee diseases is American foulbrood (AFB). Out of the estimated 6,417 colonies inspected, 49 were found to have American foulbrood. This demonstrates continued progress in controlling AFB to a level of incidence below 1%. We have maintained the Special Local Need 24(c) registration for the ethylene oxide (EtO) fumigation chamber, as well as a source for the EtO formulation. We are currently providing decontamination services to the beekeepers of North Carolina with the chamber, and it is our belief that it is a valuable tool in controlling AFB as well as other serious pests and diseases.
The mite Varroa destructor persists as a major threat to the beekeeping industry in NC and is probably a contributing factor to general poor health or mortality of bee colonies. Several new miticides have been registered; however, the mites have developed resistance to some of these materials in short order and rendered these products ineffective. Currently, the list of registered products for Varroa control in North Carolina includes Apistan®, CheckMite+®, Api-Life Var®, Apiguard®, Mite-Away Quick Strips®, Apivar®, oxalic acid (specifically labeled for bees), and HopGuard®. All of the aforementioned products are listed in North Carolina as Section 3 general use pesticides. Although chemical treatment of mites may be necessary, some miticides have been demonstrated to have adverse effects on bees. The growing use of unregistered materials may have adverse effects on honey bee health and may not be efficacious in controlling mites. This and, in some cases, the improper use of antibiotics to control diseases can further complicate useful treatment regimes.
Figure 1 European honey bee 2015 Annual Report
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Beekeepers are expressing concerns about pesticides, particularly the neonicotinoids. Bee yards can be registered through the Plant Industry Division. The list of registered yards is sent to Aerial Applicators licensed in North Carolina. For more information about registering, see: http://www.ncagr.gov/plantindustry/plant/apiary/documents/2015ApiaryRegistrationForm.pdf.
The NCDA&CS Apiary Inspectors have developed a good working relationship with the Structural Pest and Pesticides Division of the Department. The Pesticide Division responds to reports of acute bee losses and follows up according to the evidence. If a pesticide problem is suspected, timely reporting to an Apiary Inspector or the Pesticide Section is crucial for a valid investigation and resolution. Apiary personnel have collected pollen samples from colonies suspected to be suffering sublethal effects of exposure to neonicotinoids. To date, the samples have contained no detectable levels of these chemicals. The Structural Pest Control and Pesticide Division and the Plant Industry Division are working with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to develop a Managed Pollinator Protection Plan
Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) remains a major topic of discussion among beekeepers. The press coverage has highlighted the value of honey bees to a broader audience and raised awareness of their importance. Our inspectors have seen colonies that share many of the symptoms attributed to CCD, but due to the restricted parameters described as symptoms of CCD, this disorder has not yet been documented in North Carolina. This is not to say that it has not occurred here, but we still have not seen evidence specifically attributable to this condition. Most of the colonies we have inspected that show symptoms correlating to CCD reveal evidence of high mite loads or other familiar disorders.
Another threat facing the beekeeping industry of North Carolina is the establishment of Africanized honey bees (AHB) (Apis mellifera scutellata) in southern Florida (and finds in Georgia). We are maintaining swarm traps at the ports of Wilmington and Morehead City in order to intercept any bees coming in via ship. We hope to expand this trapping system to some of our land-based points of entry. We continue to engage in an outreach program to North Carolina emergency response personnel to familiarize them with the potential threat of AHB. We are actively collecting samples of bees (particularly those from colonies with overly defensive behavior) to determine their geographic origin and their propensity for this behavior. The NCDA&CS and North Carolina State University are collaborating in conducting this survey. At this time, none of the samples collected have been determined to be of the AHB type. We are striving to have our inspectors and our lab prepared to deal with any AHB incursion or incident. We encourage beekeepers and the general public to please let us know of any colonies that seem to be displaying any unusual behavior, especially excessive defensiveness. We want to maintain a beekeeping industry in North Carolina that is not threatened by the reputation of this more defensive type of bee.
We continue to enjoy a good working relationship with our friends in the North Carolina State University Apiculture Research and Extension Program. We have had the opportunity to assist them in some of their projects and would like to express our gratitude for their assistance in many of our projects.
2015 Annual Report
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The Apiary Inspection Program is based at the Beneficial Insects Lab, and Glenn Hackney, Research Specialist maintains a lab at that location. Other Apiary staff are based at their homes across the state. During 2015, the inspectors were: Greg Farris, western Piedmont, Nancy Ruppert, Sandhills, Will Hicks, central counties, Adolphus Leonard, Coastal Plain, and Don Hopkins, State Apiarist and Apiary Inspection Supervisor. Jack Hanel, who covered the mountain territory for many years, retired in March, and Lewis Cauble has moved into that role. 2015 Annual Report
North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Plant Industry Division
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Biological Control Programs
Cerceris fumipennis and Prey
Hemlock woolly adelgid
Imported Fire Ant and Phorid Fly
Mile-A-Minute Vine Weevil 2015 Annual Report
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The mission of the biological control program is to manage exotic pests using ecologically-based methods. We focus on classical biocontrol, reuniting exotic pests with the natural enemies that keep them below damaging levels in their home ranges. Although we are primarily an implementation program, conducting these projects requires research to ascertain the appropriateness of releasing biological control agents or to follow up on agents released. Currently, our projects focus on a variety of exotic insects and weeds, and involve laboratory rearing of insects, field releases of natural enemies, and surveying. Our quarantine facility remains useful to our division as well as to outside cooperators as a secure space for research and monitoring of pests. Personnel working in the program during 2014 included Kathleen Kidd, Biological Control Administrator, Christine Nalepa, Research Specialist, and Rebecca Fergus, Research Specialist for hemlock woolly adelgid rearing. Rebecca Norris, Research Specialist, retired at the end of July, and Nancy Oderkirk has been hired to fill that vacancy.
2015 Annual Report
North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Plant Industry Division
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Implementation of Cerceris fumipennis as a Biosurveillance Tool for Pest Buprestidae
The solitary ground nesting wasp Cerceris fumipennis continues to be utilized as a biosurveillance tool for the efficient collection of pest buprestid beetles in Canada and in several locations in the eastern and central United States. In 2015 we continued our studies of the wasp in North Carolina by conducting biosurveillance in eleven counties between 26 May and 20 August 2015.
A total of 572 prey beetles were collected from C. fumipennis during the 2015 flight season (Table 1); these are in the process of being identified. Emerald ash borer (EAB) was collected by the wasp at one site in Franklin County on 15 June; three EAB were collected from at least two females within the span of about an hour on that date. No further EAB were collected at this site although 12 subsequent visits were made and 214 beetles collected. Despite intensive searches in the area by NCDA personnel, the EAB infested tree could not be located; it was concluded that the EAB collected by C. fumipennis most likely emerged from cut firewood in the area. This finding makes North Carolina the second state in the United States to detect EAB using Cerceris fumipennis.
Christine Nalepa, Rebecca Norris, Whitney Swink, Kathleen Kidd (NCDA) and Master Gardener Alan Larkins worked on the Cerceris project during the 2015 flight season.
Four papers were published in professional journals during 2015:
Nalepa, C.A., W.G. Swink, J.P. Basham and P. Merten. 2015. Comparison of Buprestidae collected by Cerceris fumipennis (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae) with those collected by purple prism traps. Agricultural and Forest Entomology 17(4): 445-450. DOI: 10.1111/afe.12114.
Nalepa, C.A. and W.G. Swink. 2015. Prey carriage varies with prey size in Cerceris fumipennis (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae). Journal of Hymenoptera Research. 44: 49-55. DOI: 10.3897/JHR.44.5158
Klingeman, W.E., J.A. Hansen, J.P. Basham, J.B. Oliver, N.N. Youssef, W. Swink, C.A. Nalepa, D.C. Fare and J.K. Moulton. 2015. Seasonal flight activity and distribution of metallic wood boring beetles (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) collected in North Carolina and Tennessee. Florida Entomologist 98(2): 579-587. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1653/024.098.0230
Swink, W.G, C.A. Nalepa, and J.P. Basham. 2015. Agrilus subrobustus Saunders (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) first detected in North Carolina as prey of the wasp, Cerceris fumipennis Say (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae). Coleopterists Bulletin 69(2): 274. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1649/0010-065X-69.2.274
2015 Annual Report
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Table 1 Summary of Cerceris nest site visits in 2015
County
Site
Date Visited
# Beetles Collected Alamance McCray 12 Jun 16 18 Jun 12 29 Jun 0 Buncombe Vance Elem 15 Jun 15 16 Jun 26 18 Jun 2 19 Jun 16 Franklin Franklinton Pk 9 Jun 1 15 Jun 56 (3 EAB) 22 Jun 76 drops 25 Jun 41 2 Jul 45 7 Jul 11 8 Jul 1 16 Jul 21 22 Jul 4 28 Jul 8 4 Aug 4 6 Aug 3 13 Aug 0 20 Aug 0 Franklin Luddy Park 9 Jun 0 16 Jun 51 29 Jun 12 4 Aug 0 Gaston Aaron Moss 23 Jun 22 1 Jul 0 Guilford Lebanon Baptist 17 Jun 2 Mecklenburg Newell 15 Jun 0 Pender Hoover Rd. 1 Jun 0 2015 Annual Report
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Surry Meadowview MS 18 Jun 6 21 Jun 0 Wake Jaycee Park 11 Jun 0 18 Jun 0 Wake Lake Lynn 26 May 0 29 May 0 1 Jun 0 6 Jun 0 11 Jun 13 13 Jun 45 4 Aug 0 Wayne Faith Christian 26 May 0 29 May 0 6 Jun 6 8 Jun 31 10 Jun 15 5 Aug 0 Wayne Wayne Comm Coll 26 May 0 29 May 0 6 Jun 0 10 Jun 7 Yancey Mtn Heritage HS 17 Jun 0 25 Jun 3 16 Jul 1 11 Counties 14 Sites 54 Site Visits 572 Beetles Collected
2015 Annual Report
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Hemlock Woolly Adelgid Predator Rearing
The primary objective for this project was for NCDA&CS to operate a large-scale central rearing facility to provide biological control agents for the management of hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA). Sasajiscymnus tsugae (St), native to Japan has been in mass production at the lab since December 2002. In 2012, our colony of beetles that originated from the original NJ colony and a 2008 collection from Japan crashed. Replacement beetles were supplied by Patrick Parkman of the Lindsay Young Beneficial Insect Lab of the University of Tennessee.
The hemlock woolly adelgid occurs over multiple states, and is now distributed throughout the native range of the eastern and Carolina hemlock species. Hemlock is widespread in National and State Forests and Parks, and the loss of the hemlock is causing major changes to the ecology of those areas. In addition to a loss of a unique ecosystem, dead and dying trees are a safety hazard in recreation areas, as well as aesthetically unattractive. Although some chemical control measures are recommended for specimen trees, control with insecticides is difficult in any setting and impractical to impossible in forest settings. Because the hemlock stands and HWA infestations are scattered over a wide area, rearing and releasing large numbers of beetles in carefully-selected areas is preferred to relying on natural spread. A large-scale central rearing program supported by the USDA-Forest Service can provide these agents and coordinate releases for the southeastern region.
The predator beetles are well synchronized with the lifecycle of the adelgid. The adelgid becomes dormant for the summer as early stage settled nymphs, and in response, the beetles also enter a period of reproductive dormancy. At the end of aestivation period, when the adelgid began to mature and prepare for oviposition, hemlock boughs were stored in spring-like conditions to stimulate oviposition.
For mass production of the colony, mating groups of 15 beetles (10 female, 5 male) were placed in 3.8 l jars supplied with a bouquet of hemlock twigs and three strips of gauze. Eggs (on the twigs and gauze) were removed weekly and put in rearing cages supplied with infested hemlock. Infested twigs and water were supplied and after 4 weeks, adult beetles collected and moved into storage cages. The scarcity of healthy HWA infested hemlock made it imperative that only necessary amounts were used in oviposition jars. Oviposition jars for the 2014-2015 season were set up beginning 17 November 2014. Oviposition concluded 18 May 2015. A small colony was maintained during the summer until new mating groups were assembled in the fall.
Figure 2 Dead hemlock trees in Linville Gorge, NC 2012. 2015 Annual Report
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Sasajiscymnus tsugae beetles regularly oviposited high numbers of eggs, but adequate material for rearing was scarce. Our contact with the USDA Forest Service was no longer able to obtain suitable material. We were able to collect from an abandoned nursery in Ashe County, until extremely cold winter weather in January killed most of the adelgids (~80%). Another lightly infested site was found in Burke Co., and regular collections from this location provided material.
During the production season, an estimated 29,000 eggs were oviposited and 6000 S. tsugae beetles were produced. Personnel assigned to the project during 2014-15 rearing season were Rebecca Fergus, Research Specialist at ¾ time. We thank Amanda Cook, Plant Pest Specialists for assistance with locating and collecting infested hemlock.
2015 Annual Report
North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Plant Industry Division
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Status of the field release and monitoring of
phorid flies Pseudacteon spp for the imported fire ant
Since the discovery of the imported fire ant (IFA) in North Carolina in 1953 it has spread to approximately 90 out of 100 counties (NCDA&CS, 2013). In an effort to slow the spread and decrease population size, biological control measures have been undertaken across the state. A complex of flies in the family Phoridae is known to attack Solenopsis spp. ants in their native South America (Porter, 1998). The phorid fly, sometimes referred to as the decapitating fly, lays individual eggs into worker ants while they forage or defend their mounds. After hatching, the fly larva moves into the ant’s head to feed, and consumes soft tissue, eventually resulting in the ant’s head falling off (Porter et al, 1995). When phorid flies are present, ants decrease foraging to avoid the flies. Less foraging activity results in fewer ants and smaller and/or fewer mounds, allowing native ants and other insects to better compete for resources (Mehdiabadi et al, 2004).
Releases. Since 2000, 4 species of phorid flies Pseudacteon tricuspis, P. curvatus, P. obtusus and P. cultellatus have been released in 11 counties of North Carolina (Table 2). The species of phorid flies selected for release at each locality was based on the most prevalent type of ant colonies present: monogyne colonies with one queen or polygyne colonies with multiple queens. P. tricuspis and P. obtusus flies typically attack larger workers usually found in the monogyne colonies whereas P. curvatus and P. cultellatus shows a preference for smaller workers common to polygyne colonies (Morrison et al. 1997). In 2015, fire ants were collected from a pasture in Anson County 28 August and 8 September and sent to the USDA ARS-CMAVE phorid fly rearing lab in Gainesville, Florida to be parasitized by the phorid flies P. obtusus and P. cultellatus. After exposure to the phorid fly, the ants were shipped back to North Carolina and released into the mounds from which they were taken. Fire ant populations were low due to very dry conditions at the time of collection.
Surveys. A modified version of sticky traps developed by Puckett et al. (2007) was used to monitor for P. obtusus and P cultellatus in Johnston, Wake and Franklin County. The traps consist of plastic tri-stands (used to keep the pizza from sticking to the delivery box) glued to 60 x 15 mm plastic petri dishes. The pizza tri-stand and sides of the petri dishes were coated with Fluon™ to prevent the fire ants from escaping and climbing the tri-stand. Inverted tri-stands were anchored to the single tri-stand with Velcro, and the legs of the inverted stands were coated with Tanglefoot® (Figure 3). Traps were placed at or near the fire ant mounds and baited with live ants and bits of Vienna sausages to attract phorids. Flies became ensnared in the Tanglefoot® when they alighted to rest on the upright legs.
Surveys were conducted in late September and October. Traps were retrieved one to two days after placement in the field. Flies collected were identified using ovipositor morphology.
Figure 3 Sticky trap for capturing phorid flies. 2015 Annual Report
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Results: Field conditions were dry, which limited ant activity. After October rains, fire ant populations increased dramatically, but made trapping impossible. The only phorid flies detected this year on the sticky traps were P. curvatus, and they are persisting in all counties monitored. During collection of ants in Anson County, P. curvatus could easily be observed attacking the ants. Trapping will continue in the fall of 2016 as conditions allow.
Table 2 Site information for Pseudacteon releases County Year Species Number (estimated) Beaufort 2000 Pseudacteon tricuspis 3000
Duplin 2002
Pseudacteon tricuspis
2973 Robeson 2003 Pseudacteon tricuspis 3849
Wayne 2004 2008
Pseudacteon tricuspis
Pseudacteon curvatus
5000
12,000 Wake 2005 2013 2013 Pseudacteon curvatus Pseudacteon cultellatus Pseudacteon obtusus 13,708 6096 1404
Pitt
2006 2010 2010
Pseudacteon tricuspis
Pseudacteon curvatus
Pseudacteon obtusus
3639
12,000
1100 Scotland 2007 Pseudacteon tricuspis Pseudacteon curvatus 5206 13,008
Gaston 2009
Pseudacteon curvatus
11,000 Randolph 2011 Pseudacteon curvatus Pseudacteon obtusus 4914 2984
Franklin 2012
Pseudacteon curvatus
Pseudacteon obtusus
9312
2417 Johnston 2014 Pseudacteon obtusus Pseudacteon cultellatus 5077 4128
Anson 2015
Pseudacteon obtusus Pseudacteon cultellatus
1364
9408
2015 Annual Report
North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Plant Industry Division
22
References Cited
Mehdiabadi, N.J., E.A. Kawazoe, and L.E. Gilbert. 2004. Phorid fly parasitoids of invasive fire ants indirectly improve the competitive ability of a native ant. Ecol. Entomol. 29: 621-627.
Morrison, L. W., Dall’Agilo-Holvorcem, C. G., and Gilbert, L. E. 1997. Oviposition behavior and development of Pseudacteon flies (Diptera: Phoridae), parasitoids of Solenopsis fire ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Environ. Entomol. 26: 716-724.
NCDA & CS Plant Industry Division - Red Imported Fire Ant http://www.ncagr.gov/plantindustry/plant/entomology/documents/ncifaquarantine.pdf (last accessed 8 January 2016).
Porter, S.D. 1998. Host-specific attraction of Pseudacteon flies (Diptera: Phoridae) to fire ant colonies in Brazil. Fla Entomol. 81: 423-429.
Porter, S.D., M.A. Pesquero, S. Campiolo, and H.G. Fowler. 1995. Growth and development of Pseudacteon phorid fly maggots (Diptera: Phoridae) in the heads of Solenopsis fire ant workers (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Environ. Entomol 24: 475-479.
Puckett, R. T., Calixto, A., Barr, C. L., and Harris, M. 2007. Sticky traps for monitoring Pseudacteon parasitoids of Solenopsis fire ants. Environ. Entomol. 36: 584-588.
2015 Annual Report
North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Plant Industry Division
23
Mile-A-Minute Vine Biological Control
Native to Asia, mile-a-minute vine (MAM), Persicaria perfoliata (L.) H.Gross, is a fast-growing member of the Polygonaceae family. Hough-Goldstein et al. (2008) provided an overview of the biology and biological control of P. perfoliata. This invader has been present in the USA since the mid-1930s. A sun-loving annual vine, it is frequently found in riparian areas and can quickly grow over other vegetation (Figure 4). MAM is easily identified by its key characteristics: triangular leaves, spines on the reddish-colored stems and leaves, and a modified leaf (ochrea) that surrounds each node of the vine. Small white flowers develop into berry-like fruit that turns a bright metallic blue. Seeds can remain viable in the soil for up to 6 years and spread via waterways, birds, and mammals.
Rapid growth, prolific flowering, long-lived seeds, a preference for riparian areas and ability to overtop most native plants make chemical control of MAM difficult. Biological control is often the most practical strategy for dealing with this weed.
The USDA Forest Service and the University of Delaware initiated surveys for natural enemies in Asia, and Rhinoncomimus latipes Korotyaev was selected as the most promising species from China and Japan. The weevil was tested for feeding on non-target plants, and none were found. This weevil has been released in numerous states in the eastern United States, and is currently
Figure 4 Mile-a-Minute vine overgrowing other vegetation.
Adult weevil damage can be seen on the foliage. Alleghany County weevil dispersal site, 2015. 2015 Annual Report
North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Plant Industry Division
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being reared at the Philip Alampi Beneficial Insect Lab (PABIL) of the New Jersey Department of Agriculture. Adult weevils feed on the foliage of the plant, but larvae tunnel within stems.
Surveys. Delimiting surveys have been conducted to determine the extent of MAM infestations after populations were initially reported. These were “windshield” surveys, looking for populations along the roadsides, or walking/wading to map infestations along stream banks. “Float” surveys were conducted along the Mayo and Dan Rivers in Rockingham County. After weevil releases, sites have been visited at least once annually, and delimiting surveys for weevil spread were conducted in Gates, Pasquotank, and Alleghany Counties in 2015. When a population of MAM was found, plants were searched visually or by tapping to dislodge insects until weevils were found. If no weevils were found, the search ended after 15 minutes.
Results and Establishment. A summary of weevil releases is shown in Table 3. Weevils have been released in multiple years at sites with dense populations, resulting in 25 unique sites in 6 counties over a period of 5 years.
Mile-a-minute vine is widely distributed in North Carolina, from the mountains to the coast (Figure 5). Infestations vary in their density and size. Alleghany County has multiple streamside and roadside infestations that range from small patches to dense thickets. Weevils have persisted at all release sites for one or more years after release, and dispersal of almost 5km from release sites has been documented (Figure 6).
Counties with hatch markings are infested. Letters correspond with the order in which county infestations were reported. A = Alleghany, B = Rockingham, C = Yancey, D = Pasquotank and Gates, E = Guilford.
A
B
D
E
C
Figure 5. Mile-a-Minute infestations in North Carolina.
A
B
E
D 2015 Annual Report
North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Plant Industry Division
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Figure 6 Alleghaney County weevil releases and dispersal.
Yellow = weevil release site, blue = weevil recovery, red = MAM infestation, no weevils recovered. Buffer zones represent 1 (black), 3 (green), or 5km (blue) from release sites.
The Yancey County infestation was small and appeared limited in area. Weevils are considered established there after overwintering three years, and in 2014 they were found up to 3km away from the release site. In 2015, no plants were found at these locations. Weevils would not account for the total disappearance of the plants, but other factors including late frost or early season mechanical control may explain the absence of MAM.
In the timberland of the northeastern counties, populations line the drainage ditches that cross fields as well as covering harvested fields. Weevils were recovered at and near 2014 release sites.
Rockingham County has high populations along the Mayo and Dan Rivers, popular recreational rivers crossed by multiple power lines. The rights of way under these provide easily invaded habitat, and seeds can easily be distributed by water and wildlife.
2015 Annual Report
North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Plant Industry Division
26
Table 3 Releases of Rhinoncomimus latipes in North Carolina by year.
The Guilford infestation appears to be limited to one site at this time, but it is under a powerline right-of-way and in the path of road construction. Weevils have persisted for one year at this site, and it warrants careful monitoring as soil and other material is moved from the site.
Conclusions. Mile-a-minute vine, Persicaria perfoliata, is found in six or more counties in North Carolina, and in habitats ranging from mountain valleys to the coastal plain. The biological control agent Rhinoncomimus latipes appears to be well adapted to a variety of habitats in the state, and have overwintered one or more years. They are becoming established and dispersing from release sites. These results are similar to those found in areas to the north, where weevils dispersed at rates of 125m to 3.5km per year (Hough-Goldstein et al. 2009). As weevils multiply and continue to disperse, we expect to see increased foliar damage, decreased seed production, and reduced stands.
A poster “Biological Control of Mile-a-Minute Vine in North Carolina Using the Weevil Rhinoncomimus latipes Korotyaev,” based on this work was presented at the Annual Meeting of the Entomological Society of America, Minneapolis, MN.
Year County # Weevils # Locations 2011 Alleghany Yancey 2200 200 6 1
2012
Alleghany
4800
6 2013 Alleghany 2500 3
2014
Alleghany
Guilford
Pasquotank
Rockingham
300
200
4000
500
1
1
5
1 2015 Gates Rockingham 3000 1350 6 3
Totals
6
19,050
25 (Unique) 2015 Annual Report
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Literature Cited
Hough-Goldstein, J., E. Lake, R. Reardon, and Y. Wu, 2008. Biology and Biological Control of Mile-a-minute Weed. USDA Forest Service, FHTET-2008-10.
Hough-Goldstein, J., M.A. Mayer, W. Hudson, G. Robbins, P. Morrison, and R. Reardon. 2009. Monitored releases of Rhinoncomimus latipes (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), a biological control agent of mile-a-minute weed (Persicaria perfoliata), 2004-2008. Biological Control. 51:450-457.
Poindexter, D.B. 2010. Persicaria perfoliata (Polygonaceae) reaches North Carolina. Phytoneuron. 30: 1-9.
Acknowledgements
A portion of this work was supported by USDA-APHIS under Biological Control Cooperative Agreement #15-1061 with the generous support of Ron Weeks. The contributions of NCDA&CS colleagues Rebecca Fergus and Rebecca Norris, Research Specialists, Rick Iverson and Bridget Lassiter, Weed Specialists, and Andrew Allen, Rob Baldwin, Randy Copeland, and Derreck Long, Plant Pest Specialists are appreciated. I am grateful to Whitney Swink for assistance with maps. Thanks are due to Keith Martin, the North Carolina Park Service, and the many landowners who cooperated on this project. Cynthia Detweiler of PABIL provided weevils for release.
2015 Annual Report
North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Plant Industry Division
28
Cooperative Agriculture Pest Survey (CAPS) Program
The CAPS program is a national, early warning pest detection network, funded through a cooperative agreement with USDA-APHIS-PPQ for domestic surveillance of exotic plant pests. Such pests hold economic, agricultural and/or environmental importance to North Carolina (NC) and the U.S. and typically include plant pests that are not known to occur domestically. These surveys help safeguard our nation’s agriculture and natural resources through early detection, especially by those pests that pass through front-line inspections at our ports of entry. Surveys also concentrate on pests of export significance which are of concern to our trading partners. The CAPS program follows guidelines to ensure that data, on a continuing basis, is scientifically valid, current and reliable. The state CAPS advisory committee helps drive and focus surveys for each state. Its core members include the State Plant Health Director (SPHD), State Plant Regulatory Official (SPRO), Pest Survey Specialist (PSS) and the State Survey Coordinator (SSC). Other members may be invited to provide guidance in their area of expertise. National and/or State level surveys concentrate on three main areas of importance; entomological, pathological or exotic weed species. All data collected from these surveys are entered into the National Agricultural Pest Information System (NAPIS) before December 1st for inclusion into the Nation Plant Board’s annual report.
Executive Summary
The North Carolina CAPS program completed 6 independent surveys throughout the state during the 2015 season. Such surveys included; exotic wood borer and bark beetle, oak commodity, grape commodity, Asian defoliators, phytophthoras and solanaceous commodity. A total of twenty-seven different exotic plant pests were surveyed. The survey season began in March and ended in October. The timing of each survey was dependent on the individual pest. There were no positive detections for any of the targeted plant pests. Surveys were completed following the 2015 CAPS guidelines.
The NC CAPS advisory committee conducted its annual meeting on July 1st, 2015. The meeting focused on planning survey objectives for the upcoming 2016 season. Looking ahead, the team agreed to begin a couple new surveys next year; mollusk and forest pests. Survey priorities for 2016 were determined and survey plans were made to minimize overlap across survey programs. New survey proposals were submitted through CAPS and Farm Bill outlining the advisory committee’s suggestions.
2015 Annual Report
North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Plant Industry Division
29
Exotic Wood Borer and Bark Beetle
Trapping for six-toothed bark beetle (Ips sexdentatus), European spruce bark beetle (Ips typographus) and pine shoot beetle (Tomicus piniperda) was accomplished throughout the state at thirty locations (Figure 7) and in more than twenty counties. Multi-funnel traps were used and visited bi-weekly from March through May with more than 8,800 bark beetles identified (Table 4). Purple prism traps and visual observations were used to survey goldspotted oak borer (Agrilus auroguttatus) and Asian longhorned beetle (Anoplophora glabripennis) respectively. The addition of a part time taxonomic entomologist to our team enabled us to identify all bark beetles caught during the course of this survey. No target species were observed or determined to be positive in any of the screened samples for this survey.
Geocache locations were used as a form of outreach (Figure 7). A partnership between the North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation, NCDA&CS and the Geocaching community was established. This was the first season doing this outreach with a lot of positive feedback from those who found the caches. In all, six sites were selected. Educational items and riddles were used to pass along general information about the pests of concern in our state.
Figure 7 Exotic woodborer and bark beetle survey and geocache sites, 2015. 2015 Annual Report
North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Plant Industry Division
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Table 4 List of species caught in exotic woodborer and bark beetle traps in 2015.
The number of traps containing each species and the total number caught are detailed.
Species
# Traps
# Beetles
Species
# Traps
# Beetles Ambrosiodmus obliquus 34 137
Ips avulsus 4 7
Ambrosiodmus sp.
1
1
Ips calligraphus
10
16 Ambrosiodmus spp. 1 9
Ips grandicollis 18 71
Ambrosiodmus tachygraphus
1
1
Monarthrum mali
7
11 Ambrosiophilus atratus 32 80
Orthotomicus caelatus 3 5
Carphoborus bicornis
2
3
Phloeotribus liminaris
1
1 Carphoborus bicornus 1 1
Pityogenes plagiatus 3 5
Cnestus mutilatus
48
616
Pityophthorus sp.
7
12 Corthylus punctatissimus 8 12
Pityophthorus spp. 3 24
Cyclorhipidion bodoanum
2
2
Platypus flavicornis
8
9 Dendroctonus terebrans 14 55
Trypodendron lineatum 1 1
Dendroctonus valens
3
5
Xyleborinus saxeseni
53
403 Dryocoetes sp. 1 1
Xyleborus affinis 1 4
Euwallacea validus
29
120
Xyleborus celsus
1
1 Gnathotrichus materiarius 16 17
Xyleborus ferrugineus 27 89
Hylastes porculus
14
23
Xyleborus pubescens/intrusus
38
154 Hylastes salebrosus 10 27
Xyleborus sp. 25 54
Hylastes tenuis
25
65
Xyleborus spp.
1
3 Hylocurus rudis 4 6
Xylosandrus crassiusculus 105 6318
Hypothenemus crudiae
2
4
Xylosandrus germanus
84
434 Hypothenemus sp. 15 23
Xyloterinus politus 5 5
Hypothenemus spp.
1
4
Grand Totals
669
8839
2015 Annual Report
North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Plant Industry Division
31
Oak Commodity Survey
North Carolina completed the 2015 oak commodity survey by setting traps for the following exotics; oak splendor beetle (Agrilus biguttatus), variegated golden tortrix moth (Archips xylosteanus),) false codling moth (Thaumatotibia leucotreta), oak processionary moth (Thaumetopoea processionea), green oak tortrix moth (Tortrix viridana) and oak ambrosia beetle (Platypus quercivorus). Trapping for this survey began in May and ended in September. Thirty locations spread over sixteen counties were observed for the aforementioned pests (Figure 8). Bi-weekly visits for collection of oak ambrosia beetle trap catch and monthly visits were conducted to all other traps for lure replacement, sticky card collection or trap replacement. This survey utilized several trap types including the purple prism, wing, lindgren funnel and delta traps and was conducted in private nurseries, state parks and public and private land. Samples were screened for the presence of all target pests by the SSC with help from the division taxonomic entomologist.
Combined, this group of invasive pests represents a significant threat to the economic and agricultural well-being of North Carolina. Together, they have an impressive host range and include nursery stock, cut flowers, stone fruits (peach, plum, cherry, etc.), pome fruits (apple and pear), grape, elm, ash, maple, oak, blackberry, cotton, honeysuckle, lilac, rose, strawberry, blueberry, rhododendron, corn, okra, pepper, sorghum and other host species. No target species were observed or determined to be positive in any of the screened samples for this survey.
Figure 8 The 2015 oak commodity survey locations for North Carolina. 2015 Annual Report
North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Plant Industry Division
32
Asian Defoliators
Six exotic plant pests under the Asian defoliators banner were surveyed for; Asian Gypsy Moth (Lymantria dispar asiatica), Rosy Moth (L. Mathura), Nun Moth (L. monacha), Pine Tree Lappet (Dendrolimus pini), Masson Pine Moth (D. punctatus) and Siberian Silk Moth (D. sibiricus). An introduction of any of these exotics under this banner would have serious implications for North Carolina forests. Host trees for these pests are considered economically important and include oak, pine, ash, elm, maple and walnut. Special emphasis was given to deep water ports of entry and military installations.
Traps were placed in June and pulled in September with monthly site visits to replace sticky cards and/or lures. It was previously determined that multiple survey locations exist on large military installations, and may include a combination of several forms of conveyance including deep water ports with rail yards, or airstrips. A total of 15 trapping locations were placed across the state (Figure 9). Samples were collected at the servicing of each trap and screened for the presence of target pests. No target species were observed or determined to be positive in any of the screened samples for this survey.
Figure 9 2015 Asian defoliators survey sites for North Carolina.
2015 Annual Report
North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Plant Industry Division
33
Grape Commodity
Several exotic grape (Vitis vinifera and V. rotundifolia) pests were surveyed in production areas. They include; Summer Fruit Tortrix Moth (Adoxophyes orana), Light Brown Apple Moth (Epiphyas postvittana), European Grapevine Moth (Lobesia botrana), Egyptian Cottonworm (Spodoptera littoralis) and Cotton Cutworm (Spodoptera litura). The survey was completed using Jackson, delta and bucket traps that were placed in July and pulled in September. Trapping was spread throughout the state with twelve locations (Figure 10). Samples were collected at the servicing of each trap and screened for the presence of target pests. No target species were observed or determined to be positive in any of the screened samples for this survey.
Figure 10 2015 grape commodity survey locations for North Carolina.
2015 Annual Report
North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Plant Industry Division
34
Solanaceous Commodity
Three exotic plant pests of the solanaceous commodity were surveyed; tomato leaf miner (Tuta absoluta), old world bollworm (Helicoverpa armigera) and golden twin spot moth (Chrysodeixis chalcites). All are regarded as being highly destructive pests of solanaceous crops and pose a significant threat to North Carolina agriculture.
Helicoverpa armigera, the old world bollworm, is found in parts of Africa, Asia, Europe, Middle East and Oceana. In early 2013, in the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil, both larvae and moths were collected from infested Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) cotton fields, and were later confirmed through molecular characterization as being H. armigera. Old world bollworm was recently detected in Puerto Rico in September of 2014 and most recently in Florida in 2015. This pest is known for quickly developing levels of resistance to commonly used insecticides, including resistance to transgenic crops using Bt. Capable of long distance migration, it may adapt to environmental conditions if it becomes too warm or dry. Economically, it is one of the more costly pests and reports of serious losses are common. Early identification of this pest will limit spread to the natural environment and aid in eradication.
North Carolina has host material and climate to support these exotics. We surveyed host sites that included commercial tomato and tobacco production fields. Trap set occurred in June and ended in September when traps were pulled. In all, forty-five sites spread across 18 counties were chosen for this survey (Figure 11). Samples were collected at the servicing of each trap and screened for the presence of the target pests by the SSC with assistance from a taxonomic expert hired to help with this project. We also received taxonomic help from North Carolina State University’s Plant Disease and Insect Clinic (PDIC) on how to perform dissections and distinguish native species from exotics. No target species were observed or determined to be positive in any of the screened samples for this survey.
In August, an extension to this survey was granted to identify putative collections of Helicoverpa armigera. Dissections were completed on more than 300 suspect individuals with no positive determinations (Table 5). In addition, three suspect specimens of golden twin spot moth were dissected and determined to be the soybean looper, whose appearance is identical to the target (Figure 12).
2015 Annual Report
North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Plant Industry Division
35
Figure 11 2015 Solanaceous survey locations for North Carolina.
Table 5 Total number of dissections for old world bollworm (Helicoverpa armigera)
from suspect samples taken during 2015 solanaceous survey. Six of the fifteen counties produced suspect specimens.
County
No. Dissections
Wilson
116
Haywood
12
Henderson
51
Nash
71
Halifax
53
Swain
3
306 2015 Annual Report
North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Plant Industry Division
36
Figure 12 Abdomen dissection of a putative Chrysodeixis chalcites.
Sample was taken during the 2015 solanaceous survey.
Phytophthora
North Carolina is currently engaged in a state specific Phytophthora ramorum and P. kernoviae survey. Since both pathogens share common hosts and affect stem and leaf tissue, a survey was developed to include both for improved efficiency. To date, more than 88,000 host plants have been surveyed across 32 different locations that include nurseries and stream side vegetation surveys. Of this total, thirty-five samples were submitted for testing of which seven were phytophthora positive and sent to Kansas State University-Manhattan Diagnostic Laboratory for further diagnostics. All positive phytophthora samples tested negative for our targets. This survey is still ongoing and final results will be forthcoming.
2015 Annual Report
North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Plant Industry Division
37
Entomological Programs
The following report describes the most important activities and accomplishment of NCDA&CS Plant Industry Division, Entomological Programs during 2015. It encompasses surveys done for different entomological programs and permits associated with the movement of live insects into the state for commercial, educational and research purposes.
Sweet Potato Weevil Program
North Carolina’s sweet potato production and production areas continue to increase as demand for sweet potatoes increases in national and international markets. In 2015, a record 98,078 acres of sweet potatoes were reported in NC, an increase of 36% compared to the total area reported in 2014 (from Farm Service Agency crop report data). The success of the sweet potato industry in North Carolina is attributed to several factors including an efficient marketing strategy, strong research programs at state universities aimed at developing new and better varieties and intensive regulatory programs intended to keep the sweet potato weevil (SPW) (Cylas formicarius), the most important pest of sweet potatoes in the world, out of the production areas in North Carolina. The SPW is a pest of regulatory concern that can significantly affect the North Carolina sweet potato industry by 1) reducing yields in affected fields, 2) damaging the quality of infested sweet potatoes, 3) increasing the production cost for farmers and 4) imposing restrictions on the movement of sweet potatoes from affected to non-affected areas in North Carolina and outside of the state.
Our mission at the NCDA&CS Plant Industry Division is to implement effective plant pest programs to reduce the risk of accidental introductions of SPWs in the North Carolina sweet potato production areas, and to mitigate and eradicate any introduced weevil populations in the state to protect the sweet potato industry. Early detection and rapid response (EDRR) of weevil detections is instrumental for a successful eradication program. Our most important tool for EDRR is survey. Every year, surveys are conducted throughout the state using traps baited with lures containing a female-produced pheromone that attracts male sweet potato weevils. These traps are deployed in production fields, regulatory sites, including but not limited to storage, processing and packing facilities, micro propagation greenhouses and/or any other sites where regulated articles for sweet potato weevil are found. Traps are also deployed in the NC sweet potato weevil quarantine area in New Hanover and Brunswick counties to monitor potential movement of sweet potato weevils into the production areas and, to conduct research.
On March 19 2015, the NCDA&CS Plant Industry Division conducted a tabletop exercise to review our procedures and protocols for responding to a SPW detection in our production areas. In addition to Plant Industry Division staff, representatives from the NCDA&CS Emergency Programs Division, the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service and the North Carolina Sweet Potato Commission participated in the exercise. The result of the planning exercise was an Early Detection and Rapid Response Plan that will serve as guidance for any future SPW detections in North Carolina sweet potato production areas.
2015 Annual Report
North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Plant Industry Division
38
Field Surveys
Field surveys were conducted from early August to mid-September 2015 in 47 counties primarily in Eastern North Carolina. 13,331 traps were set in 98,073 reported acres (Table 6). Trap set was done following the established guidelines and protocols developed by the Southern Plant Board (SPB) in 1995. Briefly, two traps were placed for the first 10 acres and 1 additional trap for each additional 10 acres with a minimum of 2 traps per field. Conventional green boll weevil traps were used because of their low cost (Figure 13-A). Traps were deployed at an average density of one trap for every 7.36 acres and left in the field for an average of 23.62 days. These values are in accordance with the established SPB sweet potato weevil survey guidelines. Custom made georeferenced pdf (GeoPdf) maps were used in mobile devices (iPad minis) to navigate and locate sweet potato fields and to collect data including time and date of trap set, field type (reported, unreported and absent) and coordinates (latitude and longitude) for each trap set. Data collected during the trap pull process include the trap condition (lost, damage, good) and the number of weevils found. No weevils were found in field surveys during this period in 2015.
Table 6 Summary of the 2015 sweet potato weevil field surveys in NC.
County
Reported
Fields
Reported
Acres
Acres
Per trap
Traps set (n)
Mean No. of days in the field ± s.e
Beaufort
14
169.06
8.90
19
21.32 ± 0.48
Bertie
55
634.42
8.13
78
21.00 ± 0.00
Bladen
66
774.31
5.16
150
28.76 ± 11.04
Brunswick
1
11.40
5.70
2
29.00 ± 0.00
Camden
1
13.14
3.29
4
24.00 ± 0.00
Carteret
4
69.91
13.98
5
23.40 ± 3.29
Chowan
22
398.50
8.66
46
21.39 ± 0.49
Columbus
212
2189.23
6.44
340
19.44 ± 2.65
Craven
17
237.90
8.81
27
26.00 ± 0.00
Cumberland
180
2322.42
7.37
315
21.55 ± 1.11
Davidson
1
3.76
1.88
2
36.00 ± 0.00
Duplin
291
3717.08
7.78
478
24.28 ± 2.61
Edgecombe
651
8405.89
7.92
1061
20.57 ± 1.97
Forsyth
5
48.49
6.06
8
32.00 ± 0.00
Franklin
17
158.26
6.88
23
30.43 ± 2.45
Granville
3
22.59
4.52
5
27.00 ± 0.00
Greene
391
4502.92
6.94
649
21.21 ± 1.66
Guilford
2
16.05
8.03
2
33.00 ± 0.00
Halifax
122
1177.45
7.05
167
34.25 ± 3.73
Harnett
269
2124.01
7.93
268
32.96 ± 7.52 2015 Annual Report
North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Plant Industry Division
39
County
Reported
Fields
Reported
Acres
Acres
Per trap
Traps set (n)
Mean No. of days in the field ± s.e
Hertford
23
429.03
7.95
54
21.80 ± 0.41
Hyde
6
135.12
12.28
11
23.00 ± 0.00
Johnston
1387
12025.75
6.59
1825
22.40 ± 4.09
Jones
37
585.52
8.13
72
21.00 ± 0.00
Lee
2
3.39
0.85
4
28.00 ± 0.00
Lenoir
183
2898.91
7.40
392
25.23 ± 5.03
Martin
48
716.13
8.43
85
28.74 ± 0.68
Montgomery
2
29.59
7.40
4
23.00 ± 0.00
Moore
7
71.10
5.93
12
28.00 ± 0.00
Nash
1485
12326.92
6.39
1928
21.44 ± 4.56
Onslow
41
495.31
8.54
58
27.64 ± 1.56
Orange
1
3.41
3.41
1
28.00 ± 0.00
Pasquotank
3
31.52
3.94
8
23.50 ± 0.93
Pender
10
128.19
9.86
13
25.00 ± 0.00
Pitt
359
4042.27
8.55
473
21.29 ± 1.55
Richmond
5
101.44
5.97
17
21.00 ± 0.00
Robeson
145
2081.39
9.82
212
22.64 ± 2.51
Rockingham
1
15.61
7.81
2
33.00 ± 0.00
Sampson
1277
15933.13
7.42
2146
26.44 ± 3.93
Scotland
21
608.51
12.68
48
20.25 ± 3.45
Stokes
18
78.41
3.14
25
25.80 ± 1.00
Tyrell
13
96.93
9.69
10
21.00 ± 0.00
Vance
3
41.18
10.30
4
27.00 ± 0.00
Wake
246
1720.20
7.23
238
25.08 ± 4.14
Wayne
589
6210.71
10.20
609
26.22 ± 3.12
Wilson
1261
10262.35
7.18
1429
23.90 ± 7.97
Yadkin
2
3.73
1.87
2
28.00 ± 0.00
TOTAL
9499
98,073
7.36
13,331
23.62 ± 1.82
2015 Annual Report
North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Plant Industry Division
40
Regulatory sites
Sweet potato regulatory sites, including but not limited to storage facilities, processing plants, micropropagation units and greenhouse operations growing ornamental sweet potatoes were surveyed all year long. Because of the inter and intra state movement of sweet potatoes these regulatory sites are a high risk pathway for the introduction of sweet potato weevil from infested areas in and outside the state. Universal Moth Traps (UMT) or bucket traps (Figure 13-B) were used at these sites, instead of the conventional green boll weevil traps used in the field, because of the higher trapping efficiency. For these operations, a minimum of two (one inside and one outside) and a maximum of four traps were set per operation. Traps were placed in major strategic locations where sweet potatoes are stored and/or in and around the locations outside the buildings where sweet potatoes are loaded or unloaded. Lures were changed in each trap once a month and data collection was done using the same procedure detailed for the field surveys. A total of 149 regulatory sites were surveyed in 17 counties. No weevils were found in storage facilities during the 2015 season.
A) Green boll weevil trap baited with sweet potato weevil lure used to survey sweet potato fields and, B) Universal Green Moth Trap used to survey in storage facilities and the NC sweet potato quarantine area.
Quarantined area surveys
On February 9 and 10, 2015, a detection grid consisting of 398 universal moth traps (bucket traps) was set in a high density hexagonal grid pattern in the North Carolina sweet potato weevil quarantined area to determine the spatial and temporal distribution of sweet potato weevil (Cylas formicarius) populations (Figure 14). Surveys will be conducted for two years and the information obtained will be used to plan and coordinate a sweet potato weevil eradication program in the area. This project (funded by the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program, USDA Farm Bill 2014) will continue through 2016. In 2015, 8959 data points were collected from bi-weekly trap checks. From this information we determined the presence of 11 and 4 population
A
B
Figure 13 Sweet potato weevil traps. 2015 Annual Report
North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Plant Industry Division
41
clusters in New Hanover and Brunswick counties respectively. These population clusters will be the focus of our surveys in the quarantine area in 2016.
Figure 14 Sweet potato weevil quarantine area trapping results.
A and B) Detection grid showing the target circles (red circles) and the actual trap site in the Carolina/Kure Beach are (green dot with green label), C) population clusters with a delimiting grid in New Hanover County and D) in the Caswell Beach area in Brunswick County.
2015 Annual Report
North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Plant Industry Division
42
Emerald Ash Borer Program
The emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis) (EAB) is a serious pest of forest trees affecting primarily trees of the genus Fraxinus (ash trees). It was first detected in 2002 in the United States and is believed to have been introduced in wood packaging material from China. Since it was first detected, EAB has spread throughout most of the eastern United States. Although their natural spread is limited to an average of 5 miles per year, rapid spread of EAB is attributed to the interstate movement of infested material such as firewood. In the summer of 2013, EAB was discovered in four counties of north-central North Carolina (Person, Granville, Vance, and Warren) along the Virginia border and contiguous with a known infestation in that state, and those counties were quarantined. Prior to commencement of trapping in 2015, EAB was discovered in Wayne County, so it was also quarantined.
As part of the national EAB survey program and in cooperation with USDA-APHIS-PPQ, a survey was conducted in North Carolina in 2015 to determine whether new pockets of EAB infestation exist outside the already established distribution area. This survey was conducted in all but the five EAB-quarantined counties, as shown and detailed in this report.
Trapping methodology and results
Trap site information based on the survey sampling design model developed by APHIS-PPQ and the Forest Health Technology Enterprise Team (FHTET model) was used to create geo-referenced PDF maps using GIS for trap sites in the 95 counties in North Carolina not known to be infested with EAB at the beginning of the survey season. These maps, showing FHTET model target squares and other relevant map data such as roads and waterways, were loaded onto iPads, which were then distributed to permanent and temporary personnel for use in navigation and data collection while setting traps. Personnel from the NCDA&CS-Plant Industry Division (including 9 temporary employees) and the NCDA-Forest Service (NCFS) set approximately 881 traps in 52 counties across North Carolina (Figure 15, Figure 16 and Table 7).
Trap set and pull was performed according to the established APHIS-PPQ 2015 survey guidelines. Briefly, purple prism traps baited with a lure consisting of Z-3 Hexanal were placed exclusively in ash trees at a minimum height of 15 feet. Trap locations were recorded using GPS-enabled iPads. NCDA&CS created “weather radar” style maps using basal tree area data from FHTET, along with known ash tree locations from previous years. Field and staff personnel were trained in visually identifying signs of EAB infestation (such as tree decline, woodpecker damage, splitting bark, epicormic sprouting) and visual surveys were conducted while servicing traps.
2015 Annual Report
North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Plant Industry Division
43
Figure 15 Example of "weather radar" style map used for EAB trapping and visual surveys.
Likelihood of finding ash trees is indicated by coloration, using data derived from FHTET. Purple tree symbols denote known ash tree locations, and purple triangles indicate previous year trap locations.
Due to delays in the release of funding and other program duties, personnel began setting EAB traps in June, 2015, well after the beginning of emergence at approximately 450 degree days. Trap pull began in August and was completed in September. Additional discretionary traps were placed by two other entities. USDA-Forest Service placed purple prism traps in Pisgah Forest at sites deemed to be at high risk of introduction, such as campgrounds. NCFS placed traps in state forests, NCFS nurseries, and other sites. NCFS also conducted key extensive visual surveys, particularly south and east of Warren County, and accounted for a number of positive finds. Data for trap locations for both entities is incorporated into Table 7. Trap data has been entered into IPHIS.
2015 Annual Report
North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Plant Industry Division
44
Figure 16 Emerald ash borer traps set in North Carolina for the 2015 survey season.
Table 7 2015 distribution of EAB trap locations by county in North Carolina.
County
Traps Set
County
Traps Set
County
Traps Set
County
Traps Set
Alamance
16
Cleveland
17
Lincoln
23
Rutherford
7
Alexander
1
Davidson
88
Macon
2
Stokes
51
Alleghany
5
Davie
43
Madison
25
Surry
13
Ashe
1
Durham
13
McDowell
9
Swain
1
Avery
2
Forsyth
7
Mecklenburg
47
Transylvania
2
Buncombe
26
Gaston
11
Mitchell
8
Union
42
Burke
16
Graham
5
Montgomery
6
Wake
27
Caldwell
7
Guilford
59
Nash
21
Watauga
7
Caswell
10
Haywood
12
Orange
12
Wayne
15
Catawba
31
Henderson
8
Polk
5
Wilkes
5
Chatham
2
Iredell
50
Randolph
3
Wilson
8
Cherokee
2
Jackson
3
Rockingham
6
Yadkin
22
Clay
1
Johnston
2
Rowan
63
Yancey
13
2015 Annual Report
North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Plant Industry Division
45
2015 was a breakout year for EAB finds in North Carolina, all of which have been confirmed by USDA-APHIS-PPQ (Figure 17 and Table 8). In March 2015, EAB was identified by visual survey at a site in Wayne County. In June, NCDA&CS personnel monitoring a colony of Cerceris fumipennis in Franklin County discovered that EAB had been captured by this predatory wasp; EAB was found on a recently-set trap in Wake County; and NCFS personnel discovered a positive site in Wilson County. In July, USFS personnel identified a positive EAB on a trap they set in Graham County, and NCDA&CS personnel discovered an EAB-infested site in Orange County via visual survey (NCFS also trapped EAB at a state park in the same county later in the month). In August, trap pulls captured EAB in the following counties: Buncombe, Catawba, Durham, Guilford, Iredell, Lincoln, and Madison. High numbers and symptomatic ash trees in Lincoln County indicate a population of EAB had been established there for several years. A new EAB infestation was discovered in Johnston County in September.
Up until trap pull began in August, the EAB quarantine was extended county-by-county as new infestations were discovered. However, EAB captures throughout the season indicated EAB is widespread across the state and the entire state was quarantined in September.
Figure 17 Locations of positive EAB finds in North Carolina in 2015.
2015 Annual Report
North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Plant Industry Division
46
Table 8 EAB positive sites in 2015 by county and insect stage detected.
County
Date Detected
Stage
Adult
Larva
Pupa
Buncombe
8/11/2015
1
Buncombe
8/11/2015
1
Buncombe
8/11/2015
1
Buncombe
8/11/2015
1
Catawba
8/11/2015
1
Durham
8/6/2015
1
Franklin
6/15/2015
3
Graham
7/9/2015
1
Guilford
8/6/2015
1
Iredell
8/12/2015
1
Johnston
9/24/2015
1
Lincoln
8/17/2015
45
Lincoln
8/17/2015
1
Lincoln
8/13/2015
17
Madison
8/4/2015
5
Orange
7/20/2015
5
Orange
7/20/2015
4
Orange
7/10/2015
3
Wake
6/19/2015
1
Wayne
6/5/2015
20
Wayne
6/5/2015
1
Wayne
3/16/2015
0
3
Wilson
6/15/2015
0
1
Totals
114
2
3
2015 Annual Report
North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Plant Industry Division
47
European Gypsy Moth Program
2015 Gypsy Moth Slow the Spread and Eradication Program
In 2015 NCDA&CS, in cooperation with USDA-APHIS-PPQ and the Slow the Spread (STS) Foundation, carried out an extensive trapping, treatment, regulatory, and alternate life stage survey program aimed at detection and eradication of European gypsy moth (EGM), a major invasive pest of hardwood trees. The program in North Carolina is divided into two different areas, STS and Eradication, as shown in Figure 18.
Trapping
A total of 12,939 traps were set in 95 counties in North Carolina from April to June 2015 and removed from July to September 2015. Traps were baited with disparlure, the female-produced sex pheromone of gypsy moth (2-methyl-7R, 8S-epoxy-octadecane). Trap locations and data were recorded in iPad units. A total of 2,021 adult gypsy moth males were captured in 915 positive traps in North Carolina in 2015. Positive catches were confirmed by the state entomologist and entered into the gypsy moth trapping database at Virginia Tech. Final results of these surveys are shown in Table 9.
Male moth captures in 2015 were significantly higher than in the last two years, with two distinct pockets of high captures along the Virginia-North Carolina border (Figure 20). Cyclical fluctuations may explain the increase. Multiple treatments and a number of delimiting grids are proposed for 2016 to follow up on high-capture locations. Additionally, a large infestation was discovered on the Outer Banks of North Carolina, which will require treatment and trapping as well (see “Hatteras Infestation” below) (Figure 21 and Figure 22).
Per 2015 USDA-APHIS-PPQ protocol as stipulated in the cooperative agreement (15-8237-0864-CA), trapping surveys were conducted in the Eradication area (all non-STS area) as shown in Figure 18. Delta traps were set in an area-wide grid of 1 trap per 3 kilometers, with some areas being trapped at one trap per 500 meters if there was a suspected EGM population. Funding provided by USDA-APHIS-PPQ and the state of North Carolina was used to employ 14 temporary employees, buy the necessary survey supplies (including traps, lures, iPads, and office supplies), and for operational expenses (including fuel and maintenance for survey vehicles).
In the STS area, 8 contractors set traps in 22 bid units, according to site data provided by the STS Foundation in cooperation with Virginia Tech. Delta traps were set in an overall grid of 1 trap per 2 kilometers along the northern portion of the STS area; all other portions of the STS area were trapped at a density of 1 trap per 3 kilometers. Locations with high catches the previous year or areas under evaluation from treatments in previous years were surveyed in a 500-meter grid utilizing high-density milk carton traps.
2015 Annual Report
North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Plant Industry Division
48
Figure 18 NC 2015 European Gypsy Moth (Lymantria dispar L.) survey areas.
Shaded counties indicate areas in which EGM 3k grid surveys were conducted. Hatched areas indicate the Slow the Spread Survey areas.
Counties to be trapped in 2015 were determined using the NCDA&CS Master Survey Plan (Figure 19). Some adjustment was given according to known increases in risk of spread or potential population establishment.
Every third year rotation extended into blue counties in 2015.
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Figure 19 NCDA&CS EGM Master Survey Plan. 2015 Annual Report
North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Plant Industry Division
49
Figure 20 North Carolina gypsy moth trap catches in 2015.
Table 9 2015 EGM survey results in North Carolina by county.
County
Total Traps
Total Positive
Total Catch
Alamance
125
0
0
Alexander
30
0
0
Alleghany
139
46
118
Ashe
166
2
2
Avery
58
0
0
Beaufort
228
1
1
Bertie
305
3
3
Bladen
248
0
0
Brunswick
228
2
10
Buncombe
150
1
1
Burke
149
7
12
Cabarrus
106
0
0
Caldwell
117
7
7
Camden
158
6
8
Carteret
44
0
0
Caswell
529
60
340
Catawba
5
0
0
Chatham
205
0
0
Cherokee
91
0
0
Chowan
85
0
0
Clay
1
0
0
Cleveland
3
0
0
Columbus
2
0
0 2015 Annual Report
North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Plant Industry Division
50
County
Total Traps
Total Positive
Total Catch
Craven
12
0
0
Cumberland
49
1
1
Currituck
237
17
18
Dare
158
35
98
Davidson
164
11
11
Davie
57
3
3
Duplin
3
0
0
Durham
119
3
3
Edgecombe
149
3
3
Forsyth
125
9
10
Franklin
214
57
79
Gates
230
28
56
Graham
1
0
0
Granville
354
62
152
Greene
79
0
0
Guilford
203
4
5
Halifax
451
6
6
Harnett
172
2
2
Haywood
95
0
0
Henderson
90
1
1
Hertford
229
8
9
Hoke
109
0
0
Hyde
10
0
0
Iredell
173
2
2
Jackson
99
0
0
Johnston
229
1
1
Jones
20
4
20
Lee
74
1
1
Lenoir
107
0
0
Lincoln
87
4
5
Macon
8
0
0
Madison
100
0
0
Martin
123
0
0
McDowell
96
1
1
Mecklenburg
166
2
2
Mitchell
57
0
0
Montgomery
128
0
0
Nash
269
37
70
New Hanover
76
0
0 2015 Annual Report
North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Plant Industry Division
51
County
Total Traps
Total Positive
Total Catch
Northampton
360
1
1
Onslow
138
1
1
Orange
182
5
8
Pamlico
1
0
0
Pasquotank
154
1
1
Pender
69
11
33
Perquimans
152
2
2
Person
256
21
23
Pitt
3
0
0
Polk
1
0
0
Randolph
206
4
6
Richmond
1
0
0
Robeson
5
0
0
Rockingham
439
28
113
Rowan
154
5
6
Rutherford
1
0
0
Sampson
274
0
0
Scotland
4
0
0
Stanly
3
0
0
Stokes
260
36
39
Surry
280
103
157
Swain
2
1
1
Transylvania
59
1
1
Tyrrell
66
0
0
Union
3
0
0
Vance
191
105
305
Wake
247
12
12
Warren
388
98
205
Washington
42
0
0
Watauga
97
2
2
Wayne
167
0
0
Wilkes
229
26
27
Wilson
39
0
0
Yadkin
100
15
17
Yancey
72
0
0
Total
12939
915
2021
2015 Annual Report
North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Plant Industry Division
52
Hatteras Island Infestation
The heavy infestation shown in Figure 22 was found to cover approximately 60 acres in the Buxton area along Hwy 12 near the Buxton Woods Coastal Reserve on Hatteras Island. High capacity “green bucket” traps were placed in the core of this area in an attempt to capture male moths before they mated with females. Despite capturing over 25,000 moths, females were observed to be laying eggs extensively in the core area. Plans for treatment in 2016 have been proposed.
Figure 21 EGM infestation in Buxton, North Carolina, late May 2015. 2015 Annual Report
North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Plant Industry Division
53
Male moth captures taper down to nearly none as one gets further from the core of the infestation.
Treatments
Four mating disruption treatments were conducted in North Carolina in 2015, all in cooperation with the USDA-Forest Service in the STS area (Table 10 and Figure 23). Each site received one dose of Disrupt II pheromone flakes at a rate of either 6 grams per acre or 15 grams per acre, as shown in Table 10. These sites will be trapped in 2016 to determine the efficacy of the treatments.
Table 10 2015 gypsy moth mating disruption treatment rate, site location, and acreage.
Site name and rate
County
Acres
Cluster Springs (15g)
Person
7173
Cluster Springs (6g)
Person
6867
Hurdle Mills (6g)
Person
5116
Pilot Mountain (15g)
Stokes
762
Figure 22 Mass delimit trapping results for Buxton EGM infestation. 2015 Annual Report
North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Plant Industry Division
54
Regulatory
The gypsy moth program also seeks to mitigate the risk of artificial introduction and spread through a comprehensive regulatory program. An area that is generally infested is quarantined so that the movement of certain high-risk articles, such as logs, outdoor household articles, and nursery plants, is strategically restricted per USDA-APHIS-PPQ regulations. In North Carolina, Currituck and a small portion of Dare Counties were quarantined in 1988. A map of the North Carolina gypsy moth quarantine area is shown in Figure 24.
Regulated articles may be moved from quarantined to non-quarantined areas if the appropriate personnel undergo training and submit to the stipulations of a Compliance Agreement with NCDA&CS. These compliance agreements require inspection and/or treatment of articles to ensure that they are free of gypsy moth life stages. A number of businesses and individuals received training for new staff and several new Compliance Agreements were issued.
Figure 23 2015 EGM treatment sites (red) along with delimiting grids and all other traps set.
Figure 24 Gypsy moth quarantine in North Carolina shown in red. 2015 Annual Report
North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Plant Industry Division
55
Public education efforts are also an important part of the regulatory program. Staff visits NC Cooperative Extension and NC Forest Service offices to update county personnel on program changes. Also, program personnel monitor all high-risk locations in the STS program area by the placement and removal of traps.
The regulatory program is enduring a time of transition as USDA-APHIS-PPQ, the federal granting agency, has steadily decreased gypsy moth regulatory grants. NCDA&CS’ dedicated regulatory position no longer exists, though the person who previously held that post has assumed different responsibilities on our staff and remains able to assist with gypsy moth regulatory tasks. The future character of the program will be determined in part by USDA-APHIS-PPQ funding for this program.
Alternate Life Stage Surveys
Alternate life stage surveys were conducted at two locations, both within the GM-STS area. A survey was conducted near Ruffin in Rockingham County at the site of a 61 male moth capture site, during which one viable gypsy moth egg mass and another spent one were detected. Another survey was conducted at a 94 male moth capture site near Providence in Caswell County, during which one viable egg mass was detected. Due to this indication of reproducing populations, both sites are proposed to be treated with Btk in 2016. 2015 Annual Report
North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Plant Industry Division
56
Walnut Twig Beetle Program (Thousands Cankers Disease of Walnuts)
Thousand cankers disease (TCD) is a serious disease of forest trees affecting primarily black walnuts (Juglans nigra) and butternuts (Juglans cinerea) (Figure 25). The disease is characterized by a large number of “cankers” (dead tissues) on branches and stems causing dieback and, in severe cases, tree mortality. TCD is spreading rapidly through the Eastern United States and has been reported in Virginia and Tennessee, and in early 2013 in Haywood County in North Carolina. As a result of TCD presence in Haywood County, the entire county was quarantined and the movement of firewood and other regulated commodities restricted in that area. The NCDA&CS has been conducting TCD surveys along these border areas in North Carolina since 2011. The present information is a summary of our 2015 survey results.
Methodology and results.
Walnut Twig Beetle (WTB), Pityophthorus juglandis, surveys were conducted in North Carolina from June 1 to September 1, 2015. Visual survey data from previous years was used to determine the location of declining walnut trees. One hundred twenty nine lindgren funnel traps (Figure 26) baited with a male-produced aggregation pheromone (Contech Enterprises Inc.) were set 10-15 feet from declining walnut trees and checked bi-weekly until the end of the surveys (September 1). From these traps, 759 samples were collected and screened for WTB. Because of the highest likelihood of finding WTB along the North Carolina-Tennessee border, traps set in counties along this border were left and samples were collected for a period of 3 months, the longest period for these surveys. Traps in other locations remained in the field for a shorter period of time. Walnut twig beetle lures used in these surveys were changed once after the second month. The location of each trap (GPS coordinates) was recorded with GPS units. Collection cups in traps were filled with marine-type antifreeze to one inch from the bottom of the cup. Every two weeks until the end of the survey season, the content of the collection cup was filtered (paint filters) and the antifreeze content changed. Filtered content was screened for WTB. WTB was not identified in any of the traps that were placed during 2015.
2015 Annual Report
North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Plant Industry Division
57
Figure 25 Lingdren funnel trap (four funnels) set on a pole by a walnut tree.
WTB traps are baited with a pheromone and used to survey for WTB (right).
Figure 26 Site location for walnut twig beetle traps in NC.
Walnut Twig Beetle (WTB) and Thousand Cankers Disease of Walnuts 2015 Annual Report
North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Plant Industry Division
58
Imported Fire Ant Program
The Imported Fire Ant (Solenopsis invicta) (IFA) continues to be a serious pest in the southern United States with infestations occurring in eleven states. North Carolina is on the leading edge of the expanding range of fire ants. Currently, 73 of North Carolina’s 100 counties are either partially or entirely infested. NCDA&CS’ objective is to prevent the artificial spread of IFA from infested areas to non-infested areas through regulatory actions.
Methodology and Results
Drive-by surveys (visual inspections) were conducted from March to August 2015 in 14 counties along the current IFA quarantined line (Figure 27). The results of these surveys are shown in Table 11. As a result of these surveys, and the 2014 surveys, new areas were added to the IFA quarantine line in 2015 including Graham, Macon and Halifax counties. To reinforce federal regulations, IFA blitzes were conducted at the weigh stations in Halifax (I-95 corridor in Halifax County), Mount Airy (I-77 Corridor in Surry County) and Hendersonville weigh station (I-26 Corridor in Henderson County) respectively. Drivers were asked about IFA regulated articles and soil samples were collected from regulated articles, processed and sent for chemical analyses (NCDA&CS Food and Drug Protection Division Laboratory) to determine the levels of bifenthrin or any other approved pesticides as required by the federal and state regulations.
Figure 27 New IFA mound frequency along the quarantined line in North Carolina.
2015 Annual Report
North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Plant Industry Division
59
Table 11 Results of 2015 IFA surveys in North Carolina.
County
Miles Surveyed
Acres Surveyed
New Sites
Mounds Observed
Contacts
Alamance
193
37
17
95
1
Buncombe
206
56
0
0
15
Davidson
283
60
7
34
2
Forsyth
90
18
0
0
1
Graham
478
109
4
18
25
Guilford
239
35
6
52
2
Haywood
891
142
0
0
59
Henderson
40
21
1
30
3
Iredell
72
7
2
8
1
Jackson
918
188
4
4
75
Macon
486
188
11
119
48
Rowan
160
25
4
19
2
Swain
340
89
6
10
33
Transylvania
104
35
0
0
9
Total
4500
1010
62
389
276
2015 Annual Report
North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Plant Industry Division
60
Cotton Boll Weevil Program
Field surveys for the cotton boll weevil (Anthonomus grandis) were coordinated and carried out by the Boll Weevil Eradication Foundation of North Carolina. In 2014, a total of 380,473 acres were reported in 57 North Carolina counties (Table 12). NCDA&CS Plant Industry staff surveyed cotton gins (n=45) and cotton processing facilities in 26 counties (Table 13) using conventional cotton boll weevil traps, similar to those used for sweet potato weevil field surveys. Traps were baited with a male specific sex pheromone and checked once a month.
Table 12. 2015 reported cotton acreage in North Carolina.
County
Acreage
County
Acreage
County
Acreage
Anson
3650.6
Greene
3425.4
Perquimans
11609.1
Beaufort
9189.8
Halifax
45359.5
Pitt
6709.7
Bertie
20905.2
Harnett
9001.9
Richmond
160.2
Bladen
8422.1
Hertford
10139.7
Robeson
7339.2
Brunswick
405.7
Hoke
10079.4
Rowan
859.6
Cabarrus
450.0
Hyde
13505.1
Rutherford
10.0
Camden
410.0
Johnston
7333.6
Sampson
12721.2
Carteret
471.8
Jones
7302.7
Scotland
5434.2
Chowan
9343.1
Lee
308.8
Stanly
11840.8
Cleveland
1211.6
Lenoir
6503.6
Tyrrell
5143.1
Columbus
1115.9
Lincoln
91.2
Union
1585.0
Craven
3440.2
Martin
29735.8
Wake
275.5
Cumberland
5827.0
Montgomery
548.0
Warren
478.4
Duplin
4333.2
Nash
7299.3
Washington
10459.7
Edgecombe
23023.5
Northampton
36365.2
Wayne
7246.3
Gates
12729.9
Onslow
500.2
Wilson
4366.9
Granville
57.6
Pasquotank
1748.1
Total
380,473.2
Table 13. Cotton gin numbers surveyed for cotton boll weevil in North Carolina.
County
Gins
County
Gins
County
Gins
Anson
1
Edgecombe
1
Perquimans
1
Beaufort
1
Hertford
1
Pitt
2
Bertie
4
Hyde
1
Robeson
4
Chowan
1
Jones
1
Sampson
3
Cumberland
1
Lenoir
1
Scotland
1
Duplin
1
Martin
2
Stanly
1
Gates
1
Nash
1
Wayne
2
Greene
1
Northampton
5
Wilson
1
Halifax
5
Pasquotank
1
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Blueberry Export Certification Program
The North Carolina blueberry certification program is implemented by the NCDA&CS Plant Industry Division to help blueberry farmers export their fruit to Canada. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency requires that all fresh blueberries shipped to Canada come from growers enrolled in the Blueberry Certification Program. The program consists of monitoring and control procedures for the blueberry maggot, Rhagoletis mendax. Fifty-five North Carolina production areas were monitored (5,617 acres total representing 120 fields) throughout the harvesting and shipping period and were issued certification documents. No blueberry maggots were detected in any of the fresh market blueberries being shipped to Canada in 2015.
Movement of Live Insects for Research, Commercial or Educational Purposes
The NCDA&CS evaluated 128 federal applications, PPQ Permit 526, for the movement of live insects into North Carolina. No permits were rejected in 2015. The large number of applications to move insects to North Carolina reflects the continued market in commercial production, sale, and movement of insects for education, entertainment, and scientific research conducted in North Carolina’s academic institutions and the private sector.
Table 14 Entomological quarantine summary for North Carolina in 2015.
Regulatory Species
Quarantines as of December 2015
Walnut twig beetle
(Pityophthorus juglandis)
Entire Haywood County. Quarantine area remained unchanged relative to 2014.
Gypsy moth
(Lymantria dispar)
Currituck County. Quarantine area remained unchanged relative to 2014.
Emerald Ash Borer
(Agrilus planipennis)
In 2015 the entire state of NC was put under quarantine for emerald ash borer.
Sweet potato weevil
(Cylas formicarius)
Coastal areas of Brunswick (Caswell Beach) and New Hanover (Carolina Beach and Kure Beach) counties.
Cotton Boll Weevil
(Anthonomus grandis)
Not reported in NC. External quarantines established to restrict the movement of regulated articles from infested areas along the Mexico/US border where weevils are present.
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Nursery Certification Program
NCDA&CS’ Plant Protection Specialists inspected 4,394 nursery dealers and nurseries during the 2015 season. Eleven Stop Sale/Movement notices were issued to prevent the sale of infected or prohibited plants. These plants were either treated, destroyed, or released after lab testing.
A license issued by the NCDA&CS is required by any person selling nursery stock in North Carolina. Nursery stock is defined as “all wild or cultivated plants or parts thereof, trees, shrubs, vines, bulbous plants and roots, grafts, scions and buds.” Excluded in North Carolina’s definition of nursery stock are “annual plants; cut flowers; tree, field, vegetable, flower or other true seeds; decorative plants or plant parts without roots not intended for propagation; and perennial plants intended for indoor use that are produced in North Carolina.” A nursery license is required for any person growing and selling nursery stock whereas a nursery dealer license is required for any person obtaining and re-selling nursery stock. These licenses certify that plant material has been inspected for and is apparently free from potentially harmful quarantine pests and must be renewed yearly.
The NCDA&CS Plant Protection Section licensed 1,206 nurseries and 3,188 nursery dealers during the 2015 calendar year (Table 15). Of the 1,206 nurseries, 594 were registered nurseries and 612 were certified nurseries. A registered nursery has less than one acre of nursery stock and does not sell outside the state. A certified nursery has one or more acre of nursery stock and/or sells outside the state.
The nursery dealer industry remained relatively unchanged in the state, continuing to offer quality nursery stock to consumers. The Dollar General licensed 385 of their stores in North Carolina in 2015 and several other chain stores have increased slightly which hopefully indicates an improving economy. The increases in nursery production as well as nursery dealer stability indicates the strength and staying power of North Carolina’s nursery industry.
Table 15 Number of North Carolina nursery and nursery dealer licenses by yearw Calendar Year Number of Licenses by Category Total Number of Licenses Registered Nurseryx Certified Nurseryy Nursery Dealerz Nurseries (Registered & Certified) Nurseries & Dealers
2013
515
548
2,821
1,063
3,884
2014
590
654
2,782
1,244
4,026
2015
594
612
3,188
1,206
4,394
wData based on receipt of license fees.
xRegistered nursery – a location with less than once acre of nursery stock with no sales outside the state.
yCertified nursery – a location with one or more acres of nursery stock and/or sales outside the state.
zNursery dealer – a location where nursery stock is sold, usually to the end user, but not actually grown.
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The primary objective of Plant Industry’s Nursery Program is to facilitate the movement of nursery stock while preventing the introduction and spread of quarantine plant pests into and within North Carolina. The movement of infested nursery stock represents one of the ways plant pests may be moved from one location to another and has the potential to directly impact both wholesale and retail nursery operations. North Carolina works to prevent such outbreaks by coordinating with other states and the nursery industry to bring awareness of threats to the state.
Stop sale/movement notices are issued when high levels of pests and/or prohibited plants are noted. Plants can either be treated and/or destroyed when a stop sale/movement notice is issued. Plants can be released for sale/movement if testing of the material confirms they are free of the suspected pest(s). During calendar year 2015, eleven stop sale/movement notices were issued.
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Phytosanitary Certification Program/ 2015 Export Certification Program
Within the Phytosanitary and Export Certification Program, Plant Protection Specialists issue phytosanitary certificates to growers and/or brokers to facilitate movement of agricultural commodities to other states and to other countries. Phytosanitary certificates indicate that inspections and other specific requirements of the importing states or countries have been met. State certificates are used for movement within the United States, and federal certificates are required for movement to another country. Countries and states vary greatly in what they require for various types of commodities such that careful research and interpretation of requirements are needed for each request for phytosanitary certification.
A phytosanitary certificate provides documentation that a plant, plant part, or plant-based product has been inspected and is apparently free of harmful pests. Each state and country has very specific import phytosanitary requirements that are tailored to protect their agricultural industries and natural environment from potentially harmful pests.
The NCDA&CS Plant Protection and Export Certification Specialists facilitate interstate and international movement of plants, plant parts, and plant-based products by issuing both state and federal phytosanitary certificates to North Carolina growers and brokers. State and federal phytosanitary certificates are issued for interstate and international movement, respectively. The NCDA&CS is responsible for implementing the state export program, while the USDA is responsible for implementing the federal export program. However, the NCDA&CS works in collaboration with the USDA to issue federal phytosanitary certificates to support international export of plant-based products from North Carolina.
Primary use of the USDA PCIT (Phytosanitary Certificate Issuance and Tracking) System to issue federal certificates began in October 2009. The number of federal and state phytosanitary certificates issued using the PCIT system is included in Table 16. In 2015, NCDA&CS staff issued 6,743 federal phytosanitary certificates and 561 state phytosanitary certificates. The number of federal phytosanitary certificates issued in 2015 represented a 6.1% decrease from 2014 figures, while the number of state phytosanitary certificates issued represented a 61.2% increase from the previous year. Federal certificates were issued for the movement of commodities to 93 countries, while state certificates were issued for 29 states, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. The majority of phytosanitary certificates issued were for lumber, tobacco, cotton, cotton seed, Christmas trees, peanuts, nursery and greenhouse plants, sweet potatoes, and sweet potato cuttings.
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Table 16 Number of phytosanitary certificates issued through the PCIT1 system2 Fiscal Year Federal State Plant or Plant Part Re-export Processed Plant Product Total Total
2009/20103
1,759
24
0
1,783
205
2010/2011
2,781
21
0
2,808
323
2011/2012
4,221
13
18
4,252
206
CY 20134
5,830
15
134
6,658
412
CY 2014
6,980
32
172
7,184
348
CY 2015
6,560
21
162
6,743
561
1 PCIT = Phytosanitary Certificate Issuance and Tracking (USDA web based application)
2 Use of PCIT began in October 2009
3 Fiscal year data
4 Calendar year data
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Plant Conservation Program
North Carolina Plant Conservation Board
The Plant Conservation Program (PCP) meets quarterly with members of the NC Plant Conservation Board whose seven members are appointed by the Governor and the Commissioner of Agriculture. Members in 2015 included: Kathy Schlosser (chair) Les Hunter, Steve Henson, Peter White, Alexander Krings, David Hyatt, and Jonathan Lanier.
Peter White of the NC Botanical Garden retired at the end of 2014; he will continue to serve pending a Governor-appointed replacement of a North Carolina Botanical Garden representative. Damon Waitt, the current North Carolina Botanical Garden Director attended Board meetings in 2015.
The Board commenced work on developing policies governing activities on North Carolina Plant Conservation Preserves. Various board actions have resolved relatively narrow questions regarding particular uses and has required public access by permit on the preserves. This effort integrates past actions with more specified guidelines for activities on preserves. Included in this document are provisions for plant reintroductions that the Scientific Committee is developing.
North Carolina Plant Conservation Scientific Committee
The Program continues to meet regularly with members of the North Carolina Plant Conservation Scientific Committee. This seven member committee consists, primarily, of positions designated to the committee by law. Members include Alan Weakley (chair), Dennis Niemeyer, Alvin Braswell, Richard Braham, Johnny Randall, Hervey McIver, and Laura Robinson. Alvin Braswell, representing the North Carolina State Museum of Natural Sciences, retired in late 2014. Mr. Braswell will continue to serve on the Committee until he is replaced.
The Committee began work on updating the imperiled plant list following procedures and protocols established during the last update in 2008. The Committee will suggest additions, deletions, and technical changes once PCP staff completes necessary analyses and ensures a thorough review of any changes to trends and threats of individual imperiled species. The Committee also commenced work on developing guidelines for reintroducing plants on Plant Conservation Preserves. The guidelines will include staff-level decisions such as augmentation of existing imperiled plant occurrences and instances where Committee or Board action is necessary.
Plant Conservation Preserve System
Plant Conservation Preserves are lands permanently protected for the conservation of North Carolina’s native flora and their habitats. These Preserves are the only state-managed lands selected and designed specifically for plant conservation purposes. The Preserve system consists of 24 preserves located in 18 counties across the mountains, piedmont and coastal plain totaling 13,635 acres (Figure 28).
The Caraway Preserve in McDowell County became the 24th Plant Conservation Preserve. This forty acres in the Blue Ridge Mountains protects the largest population of northern Oconee bells, a species endemic to North Carolina.
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Figure 28 Plant conservation preserve system
Preserve Field Trips
Due to concerns about resource damage and plant poaching, PCP allows guided preserve tours only. Staff conducted thirteen guided field trips from March through October at Boiling Spring Lakes, Camassia Slopes (TNC/WRC), Redlair, White Woods, Eno Diabase Sill, pending preserve McIntosh Bay, TNC’s Antioch Bay, Tater Hill, Bluff Mountain, and visiting the neighbors of Cedar Mountain Bog. All field trips are open to the public. Each trip provided participants the opportunity to observe rare plants, while also learning more about land management and ecological stewardship. Participants included special guests, volunteer stewards, and co-hosts from some of our partner organizations.
Land Conservation Funding
PCP staff prepared grant applications to the Clean Water Management Trust Fund (CWMTF) to expand Bat Fork Bog Preserve by seven acres in Henderson County, to expand Paddy Mountain Preserve by 100 acres in Ashe County, and Cedar Mountain Bog Preserve by 100 acres in Transylvania County. The Program proposed these projects in order to protect additional imperiled plant occurrences and provide imperiled plant habitat buffer. An additional application for the Austin Tract in Scotland County protects Federal endangered Canby’s dropwort (Oxypolis canbyi), a species that grows on one site in North Carolina: a rare clay-based Carolina bay. The CWMTF board funded the Paddy Mountain expansion, and the Austin Tract. The Bat Fork Bog expansion is on their provisional list.
In support of the CWMTF grants, PCP staff applied for three land acquisition projects under the US Fish and Wildlife Service Section 6 Recovery Lands Program. This program funded Bat Fork Bog and Austin Tract projects in support of recovery efforts for Federally listed bunched arrowhead and Canby’s dropwort.
Site Acquisition Planning
A systematic and comprehensive evaluation of site protection needs was recently updated. This “Portfolio of Important Plant Conservation Areas” continues to guide our efforts in working with land owners and managers across the state to better protect these critical sites. PCP staff has begun updating 2015 Annual Report
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the portfolio in a Geographic Information System (GIS). This new version will include a scripted model generated in ArcGIS that reduces selection process time and effort, plus allowing for future changes in plant population statuses or newly discovered sites to be easily evaluated. The model will be an important part of a more consistent and efficient workflow for this necessary planning task.
United States Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) Partnership
The Plant Conservation Program and USFWS continued a long-standing cooperative agreement related to the recovery of endangered and threatened species in North Carolina. Grant funds obtained under this cooperative agreement provide critical funds to North Carolina each year. This agreement provides funding for one full-time research specialist staff position. A portion of the remaining funds supported PCP temporary employees for parts of the year. The funding from this partnership supports imperiled plant monitoring, preserve management targeted towards federally-listed plant species, and protected plant permit evaluation and issuance.
Partnership and Outreach Projects
The Plant Conservation Program is a member of several statewide or regional conservation partnerships and staff participates in these partnerships as time allows. PCP staff participated in the Greater Uwharries Conservation Partnership’s “Short Leaf 101” workshop for forest landowners and professionals, totaling approximately 150 people, by speaking on this species’ ecology and natural history. Additionally, PCP staff worked with the Bog Learning Network by organizing and participating in International Bog Day. Speakers from PCP, universities, as well as state and federal agencies presented to approximately 100 Brevard-area residents for this two-day event. PCP staff also assisted the Friends of Plant Conservation (FoPC) annual meeting by delivering presentations, organizing field trips, and assisting in participant registration.
PCP continued to work closely in partnership with conservation organizations and land trusts across the state in land acquisition with the Blue Ridge Conservancy, Catawba Lands Conservancy, Carolina Mountain Lands Conservancy and The Nature Conservancy. Also of note, PCP has expanded its partnerships with the North Carolina Museum of Natural Science, the NCDA&CS Research Stations, and the North Carolina Forest Service offices and personnel around the state. In addition, staff regularly reaches out to the public with special presentations and by filling information requests.
PCP staff supported and helped plan the Rare Plant Conservation Discussion Meeting in March, cohosted by the North Carolina Botanical Garden, the North Carolina Zoo, and PCP. These meetings provide a venue for presentation of new research as well as to hold discussions and pose questions regarding rare plants. These meetings are attended by faculty and students of multiple universities as well as staff from numerous state and federal agencies, and provides a good opportunity for PCP to keep current and potential partners abreast of important news related to PCP.
Regulatory Programs
The Program is responsible for the protection and conservation of 419 plant species across North Carolina, of which 27 are also federally listed. Program staff meets quarterly with an interagency panel to review permit requests for projects affecting these protected plant species. Program staff continues to review requests for permits from individuals or institutions requesting to move or collect protected plants, including all state and federally listed plant species. This permit requirement applies to transplant and rescue projects, nurseries which propagate and sell protected species, public educational exhibits, as 2015 Annual Report
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well as many scientific research projects. The review process incorporates input from the US Fish and Wildlife Service and the North Carolina Natural Heritage Program. Fifty-three permits were issued and several additional requests were evaluated.
 Venus Flytrap
Venus flytrap is an imperiled species endemic to North Carolina and South Carolina and subject to considerable poaching pressure in areas near Wilmington, North Carolina. In 2014, staff received approximately 150 flytrap plants confiscated by Boiling Spring Lakes Police and placed them in the care of Becky Westbrooks, instructor at Southeastern Community College in Whiteville. PCP planted approximately half of these at Boiling Spring Lakes Preserve in 2015 and partnered with the North Carolina Botanical Garden to propagate the remaining for future conservation efforts.
 Ginseng
American Ginseng harvest and exports from North Carolina continued under regulations adopted by the Plant Conservation Board. Without monitoring by the Program, harvest and export from North Carolina will not be allowed by federal authorities who have listed this plant under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).
NCDA&CS generated over 390 export certificates of wild collected ginseng for the 2014-2015 season. There were a total of 11,674 pounds (dry) harvested during the season consisting of Wild, Wild-Simulated, and Woodsgrown from a total of over 13,000 dealer-harvester transactions. PCP issued a total of 40 dealer licenses for this season.
PCP staff also participated in the 2015 annual Ginseng Marking Blitz in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, a collaborative effort between NCDA&CS and the Park. Removal of plants is illegal in the US National Parks without a permit. Each year thousands of wild American ginseng plants are marked with a permanent dye so that if the plants are poached and attempted to be sold for export, they can be identified as illegally poached from the park.
Figure 29 American ginseng root 2015 Annual Report
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PLANT CONSERVATION PRESERVE MANAGEMENT & MONITORING ACTIVITIES
The Program continues striving to manage Preserves for the benefit of the rare plant species and habitats present on these sites and to conduct sufficiently detailed monitoring to determine the status of rare species at these sites.
Preserve Management Highlights
 Hebron Road Plant Conservation Preserve:
The primary goal at this preserve is to create more open woodland-prairie conditions to promote the smooth coneflower (Echincacea laevigata) population. This site has one of the highest woody stem densities of all managed coneflower sites in the region, the majority of which are small saplings. Our best method for creating these open conditions, and to thus promote flowering in the rare plant community, in the most natural way possible is with prescribed fire. The entire conservation area exceeds 80 acres but only approximately 5 acres have been successfully prescribed burned (four times from 2011-2015). PCP staff, with the help from NC Forest Service burned this 5 acre block in April 2015. Extensive fire lines have been constructed and burn units delineated to expand future prescribed burns within the preserve.
 Eno Diabase Plant Conservation Preserve:
Several additional acres of hand clearing of small stems and brush sprouting after previous fires was removed in priority areas including the Harrelson tract, Goldston tract, Penny tract, and Wanderlust Rd. tracts. Taken together these brush piles totaled several dozen. Additionally, PCP staff also cut several dozen larger (10” dbh and larger) loblolly pine trees from the perimeter of the open prairie portion of the Harrelson tract, which hosts Durham County’s largest E. laevigata population. The tree tops were piled to be burned in early 2016 with the logs being dispersed to cause as little suppression to the forbs as possible. PCP staff and supervised volunteers treated a number of infestations of invasive plants on this preserve, including Microstegium vimineum, Lespedza cuneata, Ailanthus altissima, and Daucus carota during this period. We also created a series of schematic maps of known invasive infestations to visualize the total occupied area of each species as well as the combined impact on the preserve parcels of all of the invasive plants taken together. These maps are being used for tracking treatment times and we plan to use it for quick monitoring of successes and efficacy of treatments to better guide management efforts.
 Cedar Mountain Bog
The Cedar Mountain Bog Preserve has an extant population of mountain sweet pitcher plant (Sarracenia jonesii) which we have been monitoring and reporting on since PCP acquired the property in late 2011. From our files on the species, we noted that during the 1990s several individuals were removed from the Cedar Mountain Bog and taken to the Atlanta Botanical Garden as part of a rescue project until the poaching problems noted there were dealt with. This year PCP Staff coordinated with the Atlanta Botanical Garden to reintroduce these individuals back into the bog now that the property is protected and under management. PCP staff re-introduced approximately 20 individuals into the bog with GPS coordinates recorded for careful monitoring. PCP Staff cut additional rhododendron from the southwest corner of the bog opening, on the slope above the lower-lying boggy area for the purpose of decreasing the intercepted rainfall that these plants are certainly causing as well as the water their roots take up from the soil. The cut stems were piled into approximately one dozen piles and burned on site. This cutting and burning method is effective in reducing the biomass without disturbing the soil or creating 2015 Annual Report
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erosion concerns. We anticipate an increase in sunlight, and possibly additional water availability, for one S. jonesii and state rare mountain purple pitcher plant (Sarracenia purpurea var. montana) subpopulation and will be monitoring this and the other subpopulations in the bog for any response via flower production.
 Pondberry Bay Preserve
PCP staff, with the help of the NC Forest Service, conducted four prescribed burns totaling 295 acres in the uplands of White Woods Rd Preserve (aka Pondberry Bay). An additional 95 acre block was prepared late in 2015 to be burned, having not been burned by PCP staff since the property was acquired. Unfortunately, the appropriate weather parameters did not materialize; however we hope to burn this in early 2016. Previously collected wire-grass seeds from the preserve were scattered in one of the 2014 logged blocks close to the bay to promote herbaceous understory recovery. PCP Staff continued to cut loblolly pines, an additional two dozen, from the bay itself as part of an ongoing removal of loblolly from what would otherwise be a pond cypress savanna.
 Harvest Field Preserve
Seeds collected from Harvest Field in 2013 were sown directly on site after pretreating the surrounding area to remove all maple and sweet gum stems from within a few meters. These were planted near the seeds planted in 2014, also near the naturally occurring individual in the interior of the property. PCP staff retreated these planted areas from 2014 and 2015 later in the year to avoid competition of resprouting woody stems. Responding to heavy rains in the summer, PCP staff installed nine water bars along firelines on the north side of the Harvest Field Preserve to address erosion concerns. We also cut maple and sweetgum saplings which were then treated with herbicide to avoid resprouts in the interior of the property near where Schweinitz sunflower (Helianthus schweinitzii) has reemerged.
 Mineral Springs Barren
PCP staff hand removed several acres’ worth of small saplings from roadside edges at Mineral Springs Barren Preserve under the powerlines which are immediately adjacent to dense patches of H. schweinitzii and state-listed Georgia aster (Symphyotrichum georgianum). We cut and piled the very dense brush on site for later pile burning. We also established a new fire line for a block that has not been burned in 10+ years yet has records of Baptisia alba and other prairie-like species. Burn plans and other supporting materials were also prepared for this unit.
 Redlair Preserve
Over 1000 volunteer hours combatted various occurrences of invasive exotic plant species on this 730 acre preserve. This tract is at the urban-rural interface of Charlotte, NC and consequently has multiple vectors of invasion including riparian flooding, former homesites, and adjacent residential development.
In late 2015, PCP Staff were joined by volunteers to reroute existing fire lines at the Adam Hunter Prairie of Redlair Preserve, also a H. schweinitzii site. Staff and volunteers also cut and brush piled many trees along the woodland perimeter of the prairie opening to begin to soften the artificially abrupt boundary between the open grassy/forb-filled area and the wooded edge. This location is useful for demonstrating a process whereby xeric woodlands or even more open prairies succeed into mesic forests, where canopy species like oaks and hickories are joined by an under and midstory of maples, beeches, sweetgums, tulip poplars, devoid of oak or hickory regeneration. 2015 Annual Report
North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Plant